Communism, Sport and Homophobia - Essay Example

Sport and Communism Politics has the ability of influencing sports and the political ideology of the day is therefore quite influential as it will influence how policies of all the government sectors whether local or abroad are formulated. Socialism and communism will influence sports different due to their different approaches in the way they handle issues (Lee and Bairner 2009, p.76). Though the communists’ sports policies had collapsed in Europe to open us sports and how they are done to the whole world, the impacts of the ideology on sports cannot be disregarded whatsoever. The ideology has the tendency to promote mobility socially, fight for the rights of the society occupants most so the women. At the same time the ideology fights for equality in inclusion between the minority and the majority in the society as they try to promote policies that exploit new ways of doing sports as they emerge (Riordan 2007, p.2). The impacts of the ideology on sports has since died in Europe specifically the USSR with most of its impacts still only being felt in the countries of the far East like China, Cuba and North Korea. Countries most so the ones which did not practice communist sports got interested in the game after the countries like Germany and Soviet Union excelled in the Olympics (Riordan 1978, p.16). Therefore, they wanted to know how such countries were treating sports. The findings were much extensive; the ideology tries to use models of sports that transform the society from handling sports in a traditional manner into a modern manner. Sports is used to promote important life issues like health and hygiene, productivity of the people, defense or even the integration of diverse ethnic communities of a country (Lee and Bairner 2009, p.97). Communism and sports derived a basis from the fact that most of the countries that practiced it had a lot of rural and illiterate population. Communism presents sports as an agent of social change as guided by the state, hence the essence of the leisure classes which used to be held after revolutions or liberations (Senn and Riordan 1992, p.43). Certain theories under communist ideology stressed on the importance of steadiness in the physical as well as the mental states of the human beings. This prompted and encouraged sports a lot as it was considered wise and vital to develop the mental and the physical aspects of the population alongside the other. Most of the communists’ countries posses’ political instability as an issue of controversy coupled with less economic and social development. This results from the divisions in the society along tribal, language, race, religion or location. Sports are as a result used with the objective of bringing people together for the sake of nation building. Sports are therefore considered relevant and surely it is to health, culture and politics due to its ability to mobilize population to a given course (Riordan 1978, p.52). Therefore, this aspect makes it relevant and vital for nation building and integration of the affected nations throughout the world. Apart from performing all the above functions sports are important for policy formulation in the communist societies. Policies such as those for ending crime, attraction of the youth from religion are mainly rooted from sports development. Sports under communism is therefore viewed as a change agent in all the important facets of life with the most important being its ability to integrate, initiate change and realize integration in the society through policy formulation (Lee and Bairner 2009, p.118). Sport and Homophobia Sports were also responsible for the manipulations within the platform of power and politics. This is due to the ability of sports and sporting events to bring on board masses and big crowds. Sports has been an avenue from which individuals form whatever background or practicing any given ideology in life are brought on board through a recognition of the rights of each and every one of them (Aitchison 2007, p.75). Through the laws it will be ensured that the rights are strengthened by making into law certain aspects that are discriminatory in sports like homosexuality, lesbianism (Griffin 1998, p.48). This issue in sports ensures that there is no discrimination of the sports men and women on the basis of assumed sexual orientation and hence people must be treated equally. This is ensured by enacting laws that make such forms of discrimination unlawful irrespective of whether they are intentional or malicious, direct or indirect or based on misunderstanding or stereotypes. Such issues have been a problem in the sporting arena for quite some time and their abolishment is quite in place to make the development and progress in sports is realizable (Lenskyj 2003, p.85). The issue also disregards the discrimination of individuals from sports due to their health situation. For examples the enacted laws prevents people with HIV/Aids from being discriminated against sports and sporting events. Sports and homophobia as an issue strives to bring on board everyone irrespective of their way of life (Aitchison 2007, p.99). Power and politics would play a reverse role with respect to this as selfish politicians would consider it wise to take the advantage of the differences in demographic makeup of the society to foster their rule. The modern society is much against such behaviors due to the much advocated inclusion and equality (Griffin 1998, p.88). The issue advocates for a platform and importance of an enabling environment for all to participate and enjoy sport irrespective of their background. This is fostered through the push for agenda that advocates for fairness, equality together with respect and enhanced dignity for all in the sporting arena. This is because, through sports the development of the society is easy to realize as sports teaches individuals whether young or old the urge to strive and succeed. They at the same time give information to the same individuals of the manner they can deal with disappointments when they occur (Walsh and Symons 2006, p.231). All in all sports brings people together and make them learn how to interact with one another. Homophobia is therefore not good for any country and in sports hence most of the countries are fighting too hard to ensure they fight the vice. This has the great impact of ensuring that sports is accessible to all and that the opportunities that sports present s are shared among all in the society equally (Walsh and Symons 2006, p.272). Fear and discrimination is then a thing of the past as the structures and processes of ensuring the same improve. Through regulated attitudes and beliefs with regards to others, avoided judgments, acceptance of diversity and creation of awareness homophobia in sorts is a thing of the past and this is a boost to sports and sporting events (Lenskyj 2003, p.122). References Aitchison, C, 2007, Sport and gender identities: masculinities, femininities and sexualities, Routledge: London. Griffin, P, 1998, Strong women, deep closets: lesbians and homophobia in sport, Human Kinetics: Champaign, IL. Lee, JW, & Bairner, A, 2009, The Difficult Dialogue: Communism, Nationalism, And Political Propaganda In North Korean Sport, Journal of Sport & Social Issues, 33(4), 390-410. Lenskyj, H, 2003, Out on the field gender, sport, and sexualities, Womens Press: Toronto, ON. Riordan, J, 2007, The Impact of Communism on Sport, Historical Social Research, 32(1), 1-6. Riordan, J, 1978, Sport under communism: the U.S.S.R., Czechoslovakia, the G.D.R., China, Cuba, McGill-Queens University Press: Montreal. Senn, AE, & Riordan, J, 1992, Sport, Politics, And Communism, The American Historical Review, 97(5), 1569. Walsh, J, & Symons, C, 2006, Getting over it: homophobia, sport & university education, Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria]: Melbourne, Vic. Read More