Sport and Social Analysis

This unit takes as its major focus the nature of sport, leisure, human movement and sport science in Australia. Analysis of these is informed by poststructuralism, feminism, cultural studies and social history. These approaches are linked by a common concern to adopt a critical perspective in which the inequalities of class, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, disability and age are revealed to be central to any attempt to understand sport. In terms of implementing change, it is argued that these fields represent an arena for struggle as they occupy a contradictory position in Australia. This provides the opportunity to reinterpret and reformulate the positioning, meanings and opportunities available in sport and leisure.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Contextualise subject matter in sociology of sport, including the themes of violence, deviance, pedagogy, ethnicity, dis/ability, sexuality, aging and bio-politics;
2. Utilise sociological methods and enquiry to inform individual practice and challenge the construction of one’s own knowledge and logic in relation to sport and exercise in society; and,
3. Effectively articulate ideas and opinions on sociological issues to others, both verbally and in writing.