Steering Committee for the Study of Sports in Society

The National Conference on Sport, Youth, Violence, and the Media was an interdisciplinary event bridging academia and the community at large. The conference featured paper sessions and roundtable discussions of issues pertinent to sport research. Participants included academics, community organizers, mental health professionals, media personnel, and athletes (current and former). The general theme was that sport is a forum in which to explore and critique broader social issues. Through sports, social activism and change can be enacted. There were four sessions: youth, media, violence, and race.

Much of the discussion centered on the role of sports in the lives of youths. Professionals in the field stressed that when infused with positive values, sports can provide an arena in which children can build skills, self-esteem, a sense of community, and communication skills. The importance of providing opportunities for youngsters whose communities lack resources and providing opportunities for girls who often do not have equitable opportunities for participation, was stressed. Participants argued, however, that caution must be exercised in discussing the effects of sports on youths. Sports, it was argued, are not inherently good or bad, but rather convey the values that coaches, parents and society infuse. Sports, it was cautioned, cannot be a replacement for family, peers, and other influences. Further, some of the values purveyed in American sports institutions, in particular ideologies of competition, norms of masculinity, and the social privileges accorded athletes were faulted as potential negative influences. These professionals urged sports programs that empower all participants and focus on the values of participation, effort as accomplishment, and teamwork, as opposed to competition and a win at all costs mentality.

The issue of race was first broached when participants questioned the concept of "at risk" youth. This was faulted as being a buzz word that which reproduces racist and classist assumptions about the abilities and values of under-represented minorities and the poor. Discussants pointed out many racist assumptions that still underlie sports programs and they criticized the ideology of sport as opportunity, particularly for African-Americans, when in reality there are few sports careers available. Again economics was cited as the more salient issue and problem. While sport can be a vehicle to improve inter-racial relationships, a lack of communication, cultural misconceptions about others, and the perpetuation of racial stereotypes through sport can often hinder this process. Further, the ways in which race, class, and gender inter-relate cannot be ignored.

The importance of media as a disseminator of information about sports and how this information promotes particular values was highlighted. Panelists focused on the media’s role in (re)producing racist, sexist, and classist assumptions through what is covered, how it is covered, and what is not covered. Limited portrayals of female athletes, the silence surrounding men’s violence against women, and a lack of critiques of violence in sport in general were raised as issues. In addition, the lack of women and men of color in sports media organizations was faulted. Considering the number of African-American athletes covered by sports media, the lack of African-Americans in sports media organizations was particularly troubling. Media personnel discussed how structural constraints limit their abilities to present sports in a way which addresses these concerns.

Whether or not sports contributes to violence in athletes and society at large was debated. It was cautioned that sports itself is not necessarily the problem. Rather, ideologies of masculinity which are prevalent in and perpetuated through sports, were problematized as contributing to violence against women in society by reinforcing male privilege and superiority over women. Further, the normalization of sports violence as contributing to men’s acceptance of violence against other men and themselves was discussed. The media’s role in glorifying sports violence through excessive focus on combative play, glorification of physically aggressive play, and glorification of athletes’ transgressions were faulted. Definitions of violence on the field, including levels of violence that an athlete finds acceptable as part of sports participation, were discussed. How these norms are changing as exemplified in recent legislation and findings of liability were of central concern.

Overall the conference provided a rare opportunity for academics who study sport to discuss these issues with professionals who work in the field. This type of bridge building allows both sides to be informed by the other in order to produce more effective research and proactive outcomes in sports.

Conference Planned by: Margaret Gatz, Sandra-Ball Rokeach, Matt Hale, Darnell Hunt, James Jackson, Malcolm Klein, Michael Messner, Faye Linda Wachs

Book: Paradoxes of Youth and Sport, edited by Margaret Gatz, Michael A. Messner, and Sandra J. Ball-Rokeach.