Chapter 13: Social Class and Sport

Upper Middle Class

Composed of professionals such as physicians, attorneys, business leaders, and managers. Have significant amounts of discretionary income and join private clubs for social experiences.

Lower Class

Composed of unskilled laborers who essentially do work that is assigned and supervised by others. Income barely meets the minimum wage standards set by the government, and they have few chances to improve their economic level. In 2008 the official poverty level was 13.2 percent, or more than 39.2 million people. To be considered below the poverty line, annual family income must be below 22,025 for a family of four.

Social Class vs Choice of Sport

Higher income families - higher participation in sports Upper and Upper Middle - tennis, golf, sailing, olympics Working Class (Lower-middle): community sports, accessible and cheap. Lower econ class typically choose boxing, wrestling, weightlifting, auto racing, bowling, pool.

Power and Change in Sports

Local community, high school, and recreational sport programs = a board of directors usually hires staff to administer the programs. Parents, politicians, and others in the community may join the board or exert their influence from outside the organization. National level = people who control the money make decisions on how to run the sport programs. Their economic capital is based on organizations they head rather than on their personal wealth. The people who control sport in America often base their decisions on the welfare of the organizations or businesses they head. They decided what sport will receive high visibility, what image of each sport to portray, and what accompanying messages to send to the sport consumers. Ex: Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corporation, a media corporation that owns Fox, FX, Fox News, etc. owns a lot of the power.

Solutions to Financial Barriers in Sport

Recreation departments provide facilities, some equipment, and pay for coaching. (paid by taxpayers) Some sports are promoted by nonprofit community organizations established to fund and organize programs in a given sport. Assisted by their national governing bodies and supported financially by local donors, government grants, fund-raisers such as auctions and dinner dances, and business donors who want to help support their local community. Strong sources also include YMCA and YWCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, Catholic Youth Organizations, Jewish Community Centers, Police Athletic Leagues, Church Leagues, Girl and Boy Scouts, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

High School Sports

Schools in wealthier communities have better facilities, coaches, because pay is better and have more money for equipment.

Class Mobility in Sport

Sports provide an opportunity to improve social and economic status through success on the playing field. typical ex: football player coming from low income family and make their way to professional ranks and command a huge contract. Certain athletes stand out because they appear hungry to succeed. When they come from low income family people think they are trying to escape poverty which is why they fight so hard.

Losers of Mobility in Sport

The losers in the quest for upward mobility through sport are the thousands of children who have an unrealistic view of their potential and misjudge the odds of realizing their dreams. Odds of a high school athlete making a collegiate team are about 5 percent. Only 3% college athletes make it to the pros. So of high school athletes roughly .2% make it to a professional career.

Drop Out Rate for Girls in Youth Sports

Well over 50% for teenage girls from lower income levels.

Social Class

a category of people who share similar positions in society based on their economic level, education, occupation, and social interaction.

Cultural Capital

comprises the skills and abilities people gain from education and life experiences. Cultural capital may include attitudes, expectations, and self-confidence. (Bowles and Jenson 2001)

Social Capital

depends on family, friends, and associates and includes resources based on group memberships, relationships, and both social and business networks.

Capitalism

econ system that is based on the accumulation and investment of capital by individuals who then use it to produce goods or services.

Upper Class

makes up the top 1% of American households, and members of this class control approximately 35% of the nation's wealth. In fact, the top 10% of American households control approximately 71% of individual and family wealth.

Economic Capital

refers to the financial resources a person has or controls. People inherit, earn, invest, and spend money depending on their background and occupational status.

Middle Class

the largest economic group in the United States. Must carefully choose their expenses for daily living and leisure spending. Often work as skilled laborers, teachers, and in service industry positions.

Social Stratification

when we assign classes according to the levels of power, prestige, and wealth. Other forms include: race, gender, age, and disability.