Producing Knowledge about Sports in Society (Essay Sample)

Producing Knowledge about Sports in Society Name Institutional Affiliation Introduction Sports have changed from simple ways of showcasing physical ability to a very central part of culture and society in modern society. Sports provide fun and reflect the social reality of a particular society and influence it. For this reason, there has been rising interest in the sociology of sports to interpret the complex interconnection between sports and society. This paper explores how knowledge is produced in this field, drawing on Broch's (2022) article, The cultural sociology of sport. The article also focuses on sports as cultures that reveal various social power relations and problems, including injustice. As we analyze this article, we will discover how sport enhances our understanding of the social world and the production of sociological knowledge. Summary of the Article Broch (2022) considers the cultural aspects of sports and emphasizes that sports reflect culture and participate in the construction of culture. According to the article, sports is a social construct and the best way to view most of the issues that affect society, such as racism, sexism, social class, and power relations. Subsequently, Broch establishes the methodological starting point of the cultural, sociological perspective of sports, where it is pointed out that through the lens of sociology, more significant issues of society are reflected in areas such as sports. Another point of the article under analysis is the author's argument that sports are where social norms and values are reproduced and challenged (Broch, 2022). For example, the representation of athletes in television shows, movies, and newspapers thus spreads stereotypes of race and gender; however, athletes can challenge these stereotypes by performing well in their various fields. It provides insights from different sports to show how a cultural view is built and destroyed in sports. The article also explains the involvement of various stakeholders, such as the athletes, sociologists, and the public, in determining the sports culture. Athletes, for example, are not only consumers of sports information and events but players who shape the collective thinking about sports. While journalists give their audiences entertainment and news related to current sporting activities, sociologists come in handy by explaining the cultural significance of those sports. As consumers of sports, the general public has a role in constructing cultural meanings of sports as they command the value of sports as a product. Sociological Implications Race remains a factor, which is evident in how people treat athletes of different colors. Sport has been widely used in history in order to emphasize racial prejudices; for example, black people used to be considered talented but lazy and rude. According to Broch (2022), these stereotypical narratives are found in social media narratives where images of black athletes are associated with muscular strength, and any presentation of intelligence in blacks in the sport is downplayed. However, as stated in the article, sports also undermine these stereotypes because they strengthen the weight and achievements of black achievers who do not fit into these narrow characterizations. Sexuality is also another major factor that has been considered in the article. Sports, for a long time, have been a reserve of men where women were often locked out and given a raw deal. Even though women participate in sports, the rules and regulations set for them always differ from those of men. In his article, Broch (2022) pointed out that the media objectifies female athletes and reduces them to their appearance instead of acknowledging their talents in sports. He further supports the idea that women are considered a commodity that needs to be admired for their looks rather than their skills, hence continuing gender inequality in sports and society at large. As seen in sports, class and power are other essential factors since people and teams with available and enough capital inputs are likely to excel. Despite golf, tennis, and the like being categorized as upper-class activities, other activities, such as basketball and soccer, are more readily available to the lower class. This gender-based discrimination is evident in this separation of classes. It indicates that this world is unfair since the classes with better facilities will always get better athletes than the other classes. According to the article, sports may work in harmony with or act against these class divisions, depending on how they are structured and promoted. Significance in Sociology of Sports Broch's (2022) article is an excellent addition to the sociology of sports understanding because it focuses on sports' cultural and social aspects. That sports are fun and a complex network of social relations teaching society mirroring its norms, rules, and regulations. In so doing, the article, which undertakes a cultural, sociological analysis of sports, enhances understanding of how the sporting field creates social relations of identity and power. A strength of the article is that it highlights athletes as inspiring agents contributing to the functions of sports in culture. This strength means that athletes are not just objects exposed to stereotyping, they are active agents who build cultural discussions regarding sports. This...