Sport and society

Question 1

Define society

Answer 1

An organised group of people associated for some specific purpose or shared common interest

Question 2

Explain how mob football reflected the characteristics of pre-industrial British society (pre-1780) (3 marks)

Answer 2

1) Lower class in a two-class system had little money so mob football required little equipment/facilities making it accessible
2) Rural living suited mob football as it was played over large and undefined areas
3) Lack of time/long working hours resulted in mob football only being played occasionally
4) Lack of transport/communication so mob football was played differently in each place and was played on a local scale
5) Widespread illiteracy made sharing of rules difficult, so mob football was simple
6) Harsh lifestyle meant mob football was physical and at times violent.

Question 3

Define the term ‘stereotyping’

Answer 3

Making generalisations about all members of a group/ an individual due to them belonging to a certain group.

Question 4

Why does stereotyping mean less women are active than men (3 marks)

Answer 4

1) Fewer women are active as they are stereotypically viewed as homemakers of the family so may have less free time to take part in physical activity
2) Women are stereotypically the weaker sex, and may be put off some physical activity due to these views
3) Women are channeled into a limited number of physical activities based on sterotypical views resulting in less choice and less likely to find a physical activity they enjoy.
4) Fewer women are active due to stereotypical views that some physical activities are masculine

Question 5

Consider the impact social stratification can have on sporting participation (4 marks)

Answer 5

-Social class- may affect which activity choice is made (tennis/horse riding for upper class)
-Those with higher socio-economic status can select public schools which have better facilities and may be more likely to play certain sports such as field hockey and rugby that may not be available at state schools.
-Social class- lower status families may place or emphasis on children working or education and may not have the time or money to pay for sports clubs.
-Those with more disposable income may be better able to access clubs, resources and facilities.
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Question 6

Characteristics of Pre-industrial Britain (4 C’s)

Answer 6

-Cruel and harsh existences of lower class
-Clear class divide (feudal system) upper and lower class (upper class lived in luxury)
-Countryside (rural- no urban areas)
-Communications (non existent and slow)
-Poor education so lower class were illiterate (reflected in mob football which had no rules)
-Long working areas- so games were only played on holy days

Question 7

What was the feudal system?

Answer 7

A way of structuring the society around a relationship derived from the holding of land in exchange for service of labour

Question 8

What is popular recreation?

Answer 8

The sport and pastimes of people in pre-industrial britain

Question 9

How did limited transport affect popular recreation activities?

Answer 9

They were local and specific to each community

Question 10

What were popular activities like?

Answer 10

-Male dominated
-Reflected a harsh society
-Activities were aggressive
-Lots of injuries/death
-Lots of damage to properties

Question 11

What is mob football?

Answer 11

An activity played in pre-industrial Britain which is very much reflected in the characteristics of popular recreations and socio-cultural factors evident at the time.

Question 12

How did NGBs help with the development of sport in Britain?

Answer 12

Codified sports and established leagues and competitions that eventually went internationally

Question 13

What is rational recreation?

Answer 13

‘rational’ suggests that a level of order and structure began to be applied to sports such as football and this would in turn reflect a more ordered industrially based society. Were sports pastimes for the lower class which were designed by the middle classes to be well ordered organised and controlled.

Question 14

How did the industrialists and factory owners help with the development of sport in Britain

Answer 14

Set up factory teams and gave workers time off to compete/industrial patronage (factory owners became patrons of sport) More time for sport due to the Factory Acts and Saturday half days.

Question 15

What is muscular Christianity?

Answer 15

Christian movement that emerged in mid-nineteenth century England and was characterised by a belief in manliness, the moral and physical beauty of athleticism, teamwork, discipline and self-sacrifice.

Question 16

How did young men (19th century ex-public schoolboys and university old boys) spread sport throughout the British Empire?

Answer 16

-As teachers they developed teams and taught traditional sporting values in schools throughout the empire
-As industrialists/factory owners they set up teams and gave time off to play competitive sport nationally and internationally.
-As clergy they developed church teams or became missionaries and took sport abroad (good for social control/morality)
-As officers in the British army they used sport with the armed services and spread sport throughout the empire
-As diplomats they travelled the world and took sports with them (rugby and cricket)
-They formed the NGBs of sport which codified sports and established leagues and competitions which spread nationally and internationally.

Question 17

What were the initial negative effects of industrialisation on sport and pastimes? (HITFOR)

Answer 17

H= Poor Health and Hygine
I= Lack of Income
T= Lack of Time- 12 hours 6 days a week, move from seasonal agricultural work to machine work
F= Facility provision was lacking
O= Overcrowding and lack of space
R= Loss of Rights- restrictions placed on mob games and blood sports by changes in criminal laws

Question 18

What is society?

Answer 18

An organised group of people associated for some specific purpose or with a shared common interest

Question 19

What is internalisation?

Answer 19

Involved in primary socialisation, the learning of values or attitudes that are incorporated within yourself, absorb society’s norms and values in younger years.

Question 20

What is primary socialisation?

Answer 20

Refers to socialisation during the early childhood which takes place mainly within the immediate family.

Question 21

What is secondary socialisation?

Answer 21

Occurs during the later years when the family is less involved and other ‘agencies’ are deliberately set up for the socialisation process and begin to exert more and more influence.

Question 22

What is social control?

Answer 22

A concept that refers to the way in which peoples thoughts, feelings, appearances and behaviours are regulated in social systems

Question 23

Define prejudice

Answer 23

To form an unfavourable opinion of an individual often based on inadequate facts

Question 24

Define discrimination

Answer 24

The unfair treatment of a person, or minority group; to make a distinction and act on a prejudice

Question 25

What is overt discrimination?

Answer 25

Visible and obvious such as verbal racism or abuse towards a player

Question 26

What is covert discrimination?

Answer 26

Hidden and less obvious such as non selection of an individual as captain because of their race

Question 27

What is stereotyping?

Answer 27

Making generalisations about all members of a group/individual due to them belonging to a certain group

Question 28

What is social change?

Answer 28

An alteration in the social order of a society (significant changes in social behaviours or cultural values over time leading to long term effects)
-Eg. Kick it out/This girl can (bringing about social change to reduce discrimination to disadvantaged groups)

Question 29

19th century amateurs

Answer 29

-Held a high status, came with the onset of the Victorian era (from the mid-19th century)
-High morality, sportsmanship and gentelemanly behaviour
-Games not taken too seriously; winning not important for upper classes

Question 30

19th century professionals (low class)

Answer 30

-Slowly developed, with full onset coinciding with the commercialisation and media coverage of sport in the late 20th century
-Foul play, gamesmanship and cheating to gain an advantage
-Win at all costs, high rewards at stake and pressure to succeed to maintain lifestyle

Question 31

Early 20th century amateurs

Answer 31

-Held high status in sport and society
-Were the best players in their sport
-Middle and upper classes controlled sport, excluding working classes for amateur sports (AAC)
-More likely that top performers would come from middle or upper classes
-Had sufficient income/leisure time to play sport for the love of it, receiving no payment

Question 32

Modern day amateurs

Answer 32

-Tend to be of lower status (professionals are now of higher status)
-Some high level performers are still not professional (eg. Athletics/gymnasts)
-Blurring of amateur/professional distinctions, with less likelihood of exclusions as society becomes more egalitarian
-Performance at the top level in most sports is now open to all
-Some amateurs receive finance to pay for training expenses through scholarships or sponsorships

Question 33

Why are professionals now of an increased status from early 20th century to modern day?

Answer 33

-All classes can compete; social class is no longer a barrier to participation
-People are respected for their talents and efforts in reaching the top
-There are high rewards for professionals through media and sponsorship
-Professionals have more time to train, leading to higher standards of performance
-Celebrity status, more media coverage and role models act as motivators to achieve in professional sport