DISCRIMINATION IN SPORT P251 - 262 Discrimination

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DISCRIMINATION IN SPORT

• P251 - 262

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Discrimination

• Discrimination occurs when a particular societal
  group is constrained or held back by factors that
  are not applied to the dominant group
• They receive less favorable treatment
• In a stratified society where stacking occurs,
  minority groups will be the ones who experience
  discrimination

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Discrimination in Sport

• The concept of targeting policy towards certain
  groups in order to raise participation levels
  reflects this social ranking
• Discrimination often occurs unofficially
• But is often part of an official policy e.g.
  Apartheid in South Africa

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Discrimination in Sport
ATTITUDES
STEREOTYPES
MYTHS
DISCRIMINATION
SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY
The issues surrounding discrimination are to do
with stereotypical images of groups of people and
an imbalance of power and resources
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TASK

• As we go through each group in society, fill in
  the discrimination in sport table, commenting on
  reasons for comparatively low participation and
  possible strategies for increasing participation

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SOCIAL CLASS/WEALTH
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SOCIAL CLASS/WEALTH

• Refers to income, background, societal status and
  education
• The more money you have, the more opportunities
  you have in sport, whether taking part or
  watching
• You have a choice of many things, including
  whether to use private, voluntary or public
  facilities

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SOCIAL CLASS/WEALTH

• In Britain, social class, wealth discrimination
  and the subsequent inequality has been around for
  a long time
• Pre-industrial times different classes followed
  different sports
• Upper class hunting
• Lower class mob football
• Or they held different roles in sport
• Upper class Patrons or sponsors
• Lower class bare fist fighter

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SOCIAL CLASS/WEALTH

• Industrial revolution created the middle class
  (3 broad classes)
• Upper class exclusiveness and privilege to
  hunt, shoot and fish
• Middle class took part in sport for the love of
  the game and social reasons. Founded NGBs and
  sports clubs

• Working class males mainly spectators, some
  became professionals. This did not happen until
  the end of the 19C, when working and living
  conditions improved
• Working class females suffered double
  discrimination gender and social class

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SOCIAL CLASS/WEALTH

• This 3 tier system is still evident today
• Upper class can follow polo, or even golf as
  these are expensive
• Footballs hard core support is predominantly
  working class males
• Evidence shows lower socio-economic backgrounds
  lead to lower sports participation
• Due to cost, lower levels of health and fitness,
  low self esteem, lack of opportunities
• Working class could also feel sport is not for
  me as there is a middle class culture
  surrounding sports centres

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WOMEN
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WOMEN

• The issue here is that gender stereotypes need to
  be broken and that girls and women need freedom
  to choose, and equal opportunities and provision
  to both participate and excel

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Factors influencing participation and achievement
of women and girls in sport
OPPORTUNITY
PROVISION
ESTEEM
FUNDING
ATTITUDES
PRIZE MONEY SPONSORSHIP
MYTHS STEREOTYPES
MEDIA
COMMUNITIES FAMILIES SCHOOLS
ROLE MODELS CREATE PUBLIC IMAGEINFLUENCES
FINANCE
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WOMEN - ATTITUDES

• Gender roles are formed within societies
• Each sex has socially accepted ways to behave
• There are stereotypical models for masculinity
  and femininity
• These stereotypes can lead to myths

• Females are supposed to be creative and sensitive
• Males are supposed to be aggressive, determined
  and confident
• This has an effect on how children are
  socialised, how they are to behave and fit in

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WOMEN - ATTITUDES

• The images of males and females has an effect on
  participation in sport
• Competitive sport often has the characteristics
  of masculinity
• So, if women are involved in competitive sport,
  society often disapproves

• Society will support participation in gymnastics
  and dance, as they have attributes associated
  with femininity

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WOMEN - MEDIA

• Women receive less than 5 of mens coverage in
  national newspapers and are still under
  represented in all areas of the media
• The media creates a public image of sport and
  individuals
• It creates role models
• It influences finances

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WOMEN - MEDIA

• The sporting audience is predominantly male
• They prefer the power, speed and dynamism
  associated with traditional male sports
• Rather then the aesthetic and technical
  brilliance of some women's sports
• The majority of presenters, editors and sports
  journalists are also male, although we do now
  have the likes of Sue Barker and Gabby Logan

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WOMEN - MEDIA

• Many newspapers and TV channels do not cover
  minority sports as they can not afford to be
  different
• We have the problem of self fulfilling prophecies
• The media create superstars who become role
  models and increase participation , but unless
  minorities receive airtime in the first place,
  the opportunity is lost
• Sports with large audiences attract media
  attention, advertising and sponsorship, which
  generate income and increase opportunities for
  excellence and interest by the masses. Sports
  will small audiences are consequently constrained

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WOMEN - FUNDING

• In the British Open golf championship women get
  just 10 of male prize money
• It has been announced recently that the male
  winner at Wimbledon this year, will receive
  30,000 more than the female winner

• If women receive less prize money for doing the
  same job as men, is that discrimination?
• If female sports receive less sponsorship than
  male sports their opportunities for development
  are clearly unequal and restricted

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WOMEN FAMILIES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES

• Do families, schools and communities
  discriminate?
• Do parents offer that same amount of support to
  their female as to their male children?
• Do schools work to make the image of girls PE
  upbeat, attractive and positive or are girls put
  off by asexual kit?
• Do communities offer the same opportunities for
  girls and boys?
• Could it be due to the fact that community sport
  has more fathers than mothers involved?
• Constraints to women's participation might be a
  lack of time and disposable income, access and
  timing of sessions

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ETHNIC MINORITIES
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ETHNIC MINORITIES

• Racism stems from prejudice linked with the power
  of one racial group over another
• Although illegal, racism still exists on the
  grounds of colour, language and cultural
  differences
• PFA set up a campaign in 1993 with the
  Commission for Racial equality to Kick Racism
  out of football
• This is now called Kick it Out
• The Sports Council and NGBs encourage the fight
  against racism
• See handout

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What can be done?

• 1993 the then Sports Council wanted to
• Raise awareness of racial inequality in sport
• Increase sporting opportunities for black and
  ethnic minority people
• Improve skill levels in, and positive attitudes
  towards sport by black and ethnic minority people
• Increase the number of black and ethnic minority
  decision makers and organisers in sport

• Stereotypical thinking can be challenged
• Race-awareness training
• More opportunities can be provided for different
  cultural groups to pursue their own cultural
  activities
• LOOK AT THE SHEET ETHNIC MINORITIES IN SPORT

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DISABILITY
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SPORT, ABILITY and DISABILITY

• Society continues to discriminate against,
  handicap and impose barriers on disabled people
• Due to a significant number of disabled adults
  relying on benefits, many are financially
  disadvantaged, therefore affecting participation
  rates
• We must recognise discrimination and identify
  measures that could or have been taken to bring
  about fairer provision

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British Population
6 million of the British population have some
form of impairment. So, we can see that not all
disabled people have the same needs
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Background

• There are 7 national disability sports
  associations, which are united by the English
  Federation of Disability Sport
• People with disabilities have been considered as
  dependent and passive rather than independent and
  self governing
• This is probably due to the fact they have been
  supported by carers and professionals

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Background

• It has been realised that attitudes, assumptions,
  myths and stereotyping along with inadequately
  designed environments all impose limitations on
  disabled people

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WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

• 1989 Government report Building on Ability
  emphasis on ability rather than disability
• It provided recommendations for NGBs, Local
  Authorities, the media and disability sports
  organisations. Themes included
• Integration
• Specialist training for coaches
• Adequate provision of facilities at local level
• The promotion of positive images of disabled
  sportsmen and women

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WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

• Building on Ability aims
• Increase participation of people with
  disabilities at all levels on the performance
  pyramid
• Ensure equality of access to facilities,
  competitions, training and coaching

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WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

• There has been a shift towards inclusive rather
  than exclusive or segregated provision
• Campaigns such as Everybody Active and Pro-Motion
  have raised awareness
• Access has been improved due to the Disabled
  Persons Act 1981 minimum access requirements in
  sports facilities

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WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

• Technology has improved efficient wheelchairs
  and other equipment
• Improved training and coaching techniques
• Specialist sports centres Ludwig Guttman sports
  centre in Stoke Mandeville
• Paralympics raises awareness of elite sport for
  people with disabilities and provides positive
  role models Tanni Grey
• However, it still receives limited coverage

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Awareness

• Disabled people still need to be aware of what is
  available for them facilities and organisations
• Teachers need to be aware that children with
  disabilities need to learn basic movement
  abilities which can be developed into sports
  specific skills
• Sports organisers need to be aware of the
  specific challenge facing disabled people

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Attitudes

• Need to be challenged
• Misconceptions about people with disabilities
  need to be corrected
• Individual differences and abilities need to be
  emphasised

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Access

• Many issues need to be considered
• Toilet and changing facilities, ramps, lifts,
  wide car parking spaces, hand rails on stair
  flights, lever taps on wash basins, automatic
  doors, non slip floors, signs in Braille

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Funding

• Unemployment amongst disabled people is
  particularly high
• Disabled people who are employed can earn on
  average only 80 of the salaries of able bodied
  peers
• Sports organisations must continue to invest in
  provision for disabled people

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Adaptation and Modification

• In some sports, disabled athletes can compete
  with able bodied athletes e.g. archery
• However, some sports need to be adapted to make
  them accessible e.g. wheelchair basketball and
  tennis
• Some games are specifically designed for people
  with disabilities

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Adapting team games

• Disability Sport England have suggested the
  following ways
• Use larger, smaller lighter coloured balls and
  shorter handled racquets and sticks
• Lower net height and limit playing areas
• Increase team numbers
• Use foam equipment to limit bounce height
• Use bean bags and other easy grip equipment

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The issue of sport, ability disability
ATTITUDES (abolish myths and provide awareness
training)
AWARENESS (facilities, teaching, knowledge)
FUNDING (money available, investment in programmes
ADAPTION MODIFICATION (integrate, but treat
people as individuals)
What is needed to bring about equality of access
and opportunity?
SCHOOL PE (Integration or separation?)
ACCESS (How suitable is the environment?)
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Disability and School PE

• As a result of the Education Act (1988) many
  disabled young people have been integrated into
  mainstream schools
• There are both advantages and disadvantages to
  integration or separation in PE

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Integration
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Separation
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Older People

• Whats the issue?
• Traditionally a low or non involvement in sport
  by older people in the UK
• Sport should be for all on an equal level
• But, media portray sport for younger people
• Older people are seen to have the role of
  spectator or administrative volunteer
• As we have seen, combined inequalities increase
  constraints, so that elderly women, elderly
  people on low incomes and elderly people from
  ethnic minority groups will suffer greater
  limitations to participation

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Sport for all 50 All to play for

• This was introduced in 1983, it encouraged
  participation by emphasising the benefits of
  sports participation
• Benefits
• Social sport can increase self confidence, be
  enjoyable and lead to friendships
• Psychological participation can give focus to
  older people who may feel lost after forced
  retirement or redundancy
• Health Participation can aid cardio-vascular
  function, strength and flexibility and can
  increase a sense of well being

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Problems

• May be put off because of the idea sport is for
  the young
• Few leaders and coaches in the older age range
• Younger instructors may be unclear of the
  abilities and needs of their clients or may not
  specialise in working with older people
• If older people have been ill or injured they
  need to be cautious and seek advice from
  specialist coaches
• They may be no or little provision for older
  people in the community
• Older people may have limited money to spend
• They may find it difficult to become active again
  after a number of years

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Young People

• Issues
• In 1960 the Wolfenden Report identified a gap of
  non participation when people progressed from
  school and childhood to work and adulthood
• School children must have a positive experience
  of PE to ensure continued participation in
  physical activity when they leave school
• They must have their individual needs and
  abilities catered for so that all levels of the
  performance pyramid are accessible

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Young People

• Issues associated with young people and sport are
  the moral questions of an emphasis on
  sportsmanship or gamesmanship in competitive
  sport for young people, while those associated
  with elite performers are
• The advantages and disadvantages of early
  specialisation
• The dangers of some intense training methods
• An awareness of the needs for child protection in
  the light of some evidence of abuse by coaches

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Discrimination in Sport

• Look at the headings opportunity, provision and
  esteem
• Under the headings, what could effect
  participation and what could be done to increase
  participation
• Complete worksheet