Johnston, Cairns and Baumann offer an insightful analysis of what exactly sports has come to mean in America. Their discussion is very thought-provoking because it analyzes a lot of the ideologies surrounding sports. Among all the positive things sports can bring learning about social groups and social boundaries are two of the biggest factors I think sports bring. I recognize that the discrimination I experienced because of gender is not the same as racial discrimination, which the authors describe “involves differential treatment on the basis of race, such as deciding whether or not to employ someone as a baseball player.” (p. 159-160). The racial construct plagues the sport scene. With all the stereotyping many pros and cons bloom from the competitive nature sportsmanship brings. Substances abuse is ramped among young athletes. As in breaking the unspoken rules placed by society to “not do drugs” are broken so are the standards of the person applying. They talk about how sports creates different groups and different group memberships, and how important of a role sports has come to play on race. They explain that sports often gives us a sense of belonging to certain groups that separates us from others, creating “symbolic boundaries demarcate who belongs to what group- who is an insider and an outsider… a way to affirm or signify membership in society.” (p. 147). However, I do think that preconceptions against another person based on outward appearance alone does have parallels with race. Johnston, Cairns, and Baumann explain that “the very idea of race is socially constructed…this seemingly natural category has actually been created by society.” (p. 155).
I come from a family where everyone has a male who plays sports, and well in my family I’m the oldest and was the only child at the moment. My dad never said anything but in his way of talking and playing with me it seemed like he wanted to. So i grew up playing sports with guys, i would be made fun of for being a girl playing with guys. They would play hard, push, provoke me and whatever but I never gave up. They stereotyped me but after years I grew to become as good as them. They would talk to me about problems they had between layers or even comments “unheard” from the couches. Being hispanic or any other ethnicity other than white is hard at times.
Socially Loco 