Critical Theory in Relation to Racism in Sports - Essay Example

 Critical Theory in Relation to Racism in Sports What theory you have chosen and why? Sociology is a discipline concerned with an examination of human relations within given societies. In essence, sociology is based on different theoretical foundations that seek to explain how relationships within the society are formed and how these relationships work for different societal groups. The critical theory of socialisation holds that the society is a mixture of individuals and groups characterised by differences in cultures and identities. These differences often force the said groups to have conflicts and engage in negotiations aimed at solving such conflicts. This paper seeks to analyse different concepts under the critical theory and explain how these concepts are used to respond to social divisions particularly racism, in the area of sports. In particular, the paper focuses on the factors which determine what sport an individual engages in, the struggle of the minority to join majority-controlled sports, and the issue of racial micro-aggression. Overview of the critical theory The critical theory of sociology is one of the most prominent theories that explain social relations, particularly because the theory is neither too positivist nor pessimistic but rather looks at the society the way it is. According to Coakley & Donnelly (2004, p. 42), the critical theory examines the origins of power, how such power operates in the social life and how it changes in relation to people’s struggles over social relationships. Among the most common forms of social difference or division is concerned with ethnic and racial differences, which often lead to inequalities and power struggles. These inequalities affect different social aspects and activities, including sports. Ideally, sports should be all inclusive and characterised by democratic processes in which all people are allowed to participate regardless of social divisions. On the contrary, however, sports have proved to be very divisive in that people from a certain gender, religion, social class or race are favored over minority others. Individuals and group minorities are often at a disadvantaged position is as far as sporting activities are concerned. Racism in sports There are several social divisions that affect sporting activities within given societies, one of the most prominent being racial discrimination. In sociology, racism is considered as a form of social exclusion since it creates inequality of social groups and ends up disadvantaging one or more groups. Race is one of the core factors that cause social divisions in areas such as education, employment and even sports. As Hylton (2008, p. 1) writes, the sporting field has this perception that a person’s genes and cultural background dictate their prowess in a given sport. As such, the Critical Race Theory (CRT) pays close attention to issues related to racism in sports in terms of how racialisation causes divisions in sports. In most cases, racism in sports exits between white people and Black people where in most cases, white people are considered as being phenotypically superior to Black people. According to Hylton (2008, p. 1-3) CRT holds that society privileges ‘whiteness’ and disadvantages ‘blackness’. Racial background and its influence on sporting choices One of the results of racial profiling in sports is that different individuals are often forced to make sporting choices based on what stereotypes exist concerning the sporting capabilities of their race. Hylton (2008, p. 2) gives the example of Jack Nicklaus who believed that African Americans did not have the right muscle structure to enable them succeed in golf. However, this naïve perception was proved wrong in 1994 when Tiger Woods became the best golfer of the generation. In a study by Long & Hylton (2002, p. 93) concerning racial perspectives of cricket players, one Asian cricketer was of the opinion that West Indians and Asians are better players than English players. The player stereotyped that English players did not have the flamboyance exhibited by their Indian and Asian counterparts. Another player theorised that English players work better under pressure but they lack in natural talent and are less physically fit for the game. The struggle of the minority to fit in majority-controlled sporting activities Sporting activities in different parts of the world, and in particular industrialized societies, depict the underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in sporting activities. According to Jarvie (2011, p. 105), sports have been used to fuel discrimination of ethnic minorities which has often led to their underrepresentation in certain sports. As Coakley& Donnelly (2004, p. 261) state, racial classifications stemmed out of Europe during the colonisation period, where Europeans assumed that they were the ‘normal” ones and anyone with dissimilar looks and behavior was inferior. Centuries down the line, the notion that white is superior has been carried onto the sporting field and has affected the development and participation of certain races in sporting activities. Take for instance the case of Kiran Matharu, a young golf sensation who claimed to have been denied membership at golf clubs simply because of her Asian origin, while other less successful but ‘white’ golfers were being easily admitted. The Italian football league, for example, is notorious for racism, with football fans in fond of chanting racist songs towards Black people. The baffling fact is that the authorities do little to stop such kind of racism, thus forcing many Black players to exit the league as a result of racial abuse. For example, Mario Balotelli, despite his contribution to the national team, has been the subject of racial chants his entire career simply because he is Black. Spain is also another country where racism is sports is very rife, as exemplified in the recent past when a fan threw a banana on the pitch when Dani Alves was about to take a corner kick. Alves is dark skinned and the banana was symbolic of him being equated with a monkey. The issue of underrepresentation is closely related to the practice of stacking. Stacking is the practice of over-representing or under-representing certain ethnic groups in team sports. According to Olchfa Comprehensive School (n.d, p. 11) different people are usually guided into different sports based on their racial backgrounds. For example, most sprinters in athletics are Black people. However, this occurrence does not necessarily mean that Black athletes are better sprinters than white athletes. According to Olchfa Comprehensive School (n.d, p. 19) for instance, Black athletes are stereotyped as not performing well academically thus their teachers direct them to sporting activities, but never make it to central positions. Essentially, such ideologies come from the socialization process within the society where certain races are considered as being better at certain sports than others. Accordingly, such people end up joining the said sports thus leading to stacking and subsequent inequalities. According to Olchfa Comprehensive School (n.d, p. 13) some of the most famous sports for stacking in the UK include tennis, rugby, cricket, golf, athletics, and swimming. Burdsey (2011, pp. 275-286) gives the example of how British Asian footballers are underrepresented in professional football in England. In fact, research shows that approximately 75 percent of British professional footballers are white, with only four professional players being British Asian (Olchfa Comprehensive School, n.d, p. 19). In addition, studies show that very few Black players have become captain of premier league clubs, with no Black manager in English football history. Micro-aggression in sports Micro-aggression is another dominant factor in as far as societal relations among different groups are concerned. Micro-aggression refers to the use of subtle verbal, non-verbal, and visual insults towards people of colour (Solorzano, Ceja &Yosso, 2000 pp. 60). Racism in sports is also characterised by colorblind racism in which racial minorities are subjected to everyday gestures, looks, tones and other gestures that simulate micro-aggression during sporting activities. In some cases, players in different sports have been reported as practicing micro-aggression on their opponents. A case in point is that of Luis Suarez, a Liverpool player who made a racial slur towards Patrice Evra of Manchester United during a league game. According to King (2012), Suarez used the word “negro” at least seven times in reference to Evra’s skin color. As a consequence, Suarez was handed an eight match ban for the racial slur on a fellow player. Solutions One of the solutions proposed by the critical theory in relation to racism in sports is that sports should be made more equitable through political involvement. According to Coakley & Donnelly (2004, p. 43), sport institutions and governments should initiate programmes aimed at eliminating oppression and exploitation of ethnic minorities. In essence, sports activities should encourage fairness, equity, and openness such that every individual regardless of race is allowed to engage in the sport of their choice. Another solution to the persistent problem of racism in sports is that sport bodies should exercise more strict measures in dealing with cases of racial discrimination. For example, FIFA has been very stringent in dealing with racism cases as exemplified by the Suarez ban. If other sporting associations followed the same rules, then cases of racism would significantly reduce. Conclusion Evidently, the society is not always a democratic place where equity and fairness is always practiced; rather the critical theory asserts that society characterized by competition, power struggles and stereotypes. In particular, the field of sport is marred by social divisions such as ethnic and racial discriminations. In most cases, racial differences play an integral part in determining what sports one engages in because of issues such as stacking. In sports such as the football league in England, a majority of players are white and all managers are white, thus depicting the underrepresentation of racial minorities in mainstream sports. With issues such as insults and micro-aggression towards racial minorities persisting, the sporting discipline needs a lot of improvement in dealing with racism. More strict measures should be taken against racists and programmes should be instituted to ensure fairness and equity in sports. References Burdsey, D., 2011. That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore: Racial Micro-aggressions, Colorblind Ideology and the Mitigation of Racism in English Men’s First-Class Cricket. Sociology of Sport, 28, 261-283. Coakley, J., &Donnelly, P., 2004. Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies. Toronto, ON: McGraw-Hill Ryerson. Hylton, K., 2008. “Race” And Sport: Critical Race Theory. The Social Issues Collection. London: Routledge. Jarvie, G., 2011. Sport, Social Division and Social Inequality. Sport Science Review, XX (1-2), pp. 95-109. King, D., 2012. I’m Sorry (But Not to You, Evra): Suarez Finally Apologizes for Racist Insults. Daily Mail, 4 Jan. Long, J., &Hylton, K., 2002. Shades of White: An Examination of Whiteness in Sport. Leisure Studies, 21, pp. 87-103. Olchfa Comprehensive School. n.d. Race, Culture & Sport. Retrieved from:www.olchfa.swansea.sch.uk/pluinfile.php/.../race_culture_sport.ppt Solorzano, D., Ceja, M., &Yosso, T., 2000. Critical Race Theory, Racial Micro-aggressions, and Campus Racial Climate: The Experiences of African American College Students. Journal of Negro Education, 69 (1/2): 60-73. Read More