Sociocultural Issues 2

Because the performance of bodies is so central to sport, exercise and physical recreation, physical educators and sports scientists also seek to know bodies from a professional perspective

From this perspective, physical educators have since viewed the body as ‘an object of exact calculation’ whose performance capabilities can be measured, analyzed and improved.

Social Construction of the body

(Kirk, 2002)

Increasing prominence of bodies in popular culture and advertising, increasing concerns for body-related issues such as health and fitness, and illnesses such as coronary heart disease, AIDS and cancer have raised people’s awareness of their intuitive understanding of bodies.

The social construction of bodies had been overlooked by educators and sport scientists until relatively recently.

(Kirk, 2002)

On the occasions when social scientists have turned their attention to the body, their theories have tended to reflect naturalistic views.

This view has lead to claims that differences in sport performance between females and males can be explained solely in terms of biological factors such as strength (‘men are stronger’) and psychological factors such as motivation (‘men are more aggressive’).

Similar arguments are made to explain racial differences in sport performance.

Naturalistic View of the Body

(Kirk, 2002)

This view assumes that biological differences explain variations in behaviour

Too deterministic: social behaviours (such as masculinism) is thought to be dependent on and determined by biological factors such as muscularity and physical size

This view is now being challenged by researchers

Problems with a Naturalistic View

(Kirk, 2002)

Biology does not determine social behaviour Masculinity: There are different forms of

masculinity and different behaviours are associated with being masculine.

Bodies are important to understanding how and why people as individuals and groups behave the way they do.

The body transmits messages: Body language Bodies exist in culture and nature simultaneously

Constructionist View of the Body

(Kirk, 2002)

A good way to break down this barrier to understanding the notion of the body in culture is to consider the values attributed to different body shapes

Read the following paragraph and write down your initial thoughts without sharing them aloud:

The body in culture/nature

(Kirk, 2002)

To accept that character is summarized in our bodies, that personality and individuality are a function of our appearance and physical prowess, confronts us as an unlikely article of faith. When we consider the popularity of practices such as cosmetic surgery, strenuous exercise and dieting, which transform our body shape and appearance and which are frequently undertaken on the belief that our sense of self will be more assured when our appearance is different, then we are forced to consider that a continuity of thought with that of the physiognomist (assessment of a person’s character from their outer appearance) may be expressed.

Silent reading

(Kirk, 2002)

What thoughts come to mind after reading this?

To what extent to you think that the character of a person is judged on their outer appearances?

How is this reflected in the sporting community?

Reading Response Questions

(Kirk, 2002)

The material the media supplies is not passively absorbed. Each of us actively appropriates this material to make sense of ourselves and our place in the social world.

The media also manufactures our hopes and expectations of the future and provides a means of expressing our experiences.

Media in consumer culture plays a crucial role in the formation of our self-identities. Visual representation of the body offer important resources in the process of self-formation.

Advertising in particular not only establishes bodily norms, it also stimulates desire around these norms for the ways of life the body is being used to signify

The Media’s Influence

(Kirk, 2002)

1. What factors affect the social construction of the body?2. What are the differences between naturalistic and constructionist

views of the body?

In a group, discuss and then describe what you think is an ideal body and identity and who are what has influenced your views. Note the major characteristics of your description. Then discuss, describe and note the main features of the ideal body for participating in the following sports:

Rugby union prop forward Netball goal attack Golfer Competitive swimmer

Reflection

(Kirk, 2002)

Kirk, D. (2002). The social construction of the body in physical education and sport. School of Human Movement Studies Publications.

References

Theory: Participation in Sport Prac: Butterfly!

Reminder:Assessment tasks are due next class!!!

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