Stereotypes in Sports

Welcome Back to Athletic Anthropology! In this segment of our journey, we are going to be talking about one of the more controversial parts of sports and sports culture in society today: stereotypes in competition. The conversation around stereotypes and their history in sports has begun to intensify following the increased attention resulting from social and political unrest in the United States. Thus, it is important to talk about how the social and political realms intertwine with the sports world. Both positive and negative aspects of society find their way into sports so today we will discuss how social factors affect sports by looking at how people within sports perceive certain individuals and activities.

Let us start by talking about the different environmental factors that contribute to the production of athletes in communities. The most influential factor that enables and prevents certain people from participating in select sports is money. Those who have enough money to engage in the luxuries of sports will often gravitate towards sports enjoyed by other wealthy individuals. This is clear in sports like polo and yachting where it is necessary to not only pay for equipment but also pay entrance fees and maintenance fees for the venues and facilities to compete. As a result, it is extremely difficult for those who do not have money to participate in sports. While it may seem that a lack of money will discourage individuals from playing sports it is quite the opposite. Those who lack the money for sports equipment will often adapt their resources and environment in creative ways to hone their skills. For example, while playing soccer (football) on full-sized fields was relatively uncommon in many 20th-century South American countries, street ball games were thriving in the streets of many major cities. The players' ability and creativity to adapt to the sport of soccer led to the development of a unique game that was well suited for the environment of its players. Another factor that influences an athlete's sport of choice is the environment they are in. While this was demonstrated in the evolution of soccer, the environmental factors can also be more subtle. For example, if one's parents and relatives played one sport then that person may be more likely to participate in it. Finally, one important factor that influences participation in athletics is the government. The funding given to provide the citizens of a country with access and opportunity varies from country to country and shapes the popularity of competitions and sports. For example, Mao Zedong declared that table tennis was the official sport of China and provided funding for the sport so that it was available to people across the country. As a result of the funding and advertising, table tennis became part of the national identity of China.

These factors not only shape the sports that athletes participate in but they can also be the basis for stereotypes. For example, because of the availability of basketball through courts in public parks in low-income urban environments across the US, many Black and African-Americans began to play basketball. Similarly, the stereotype about African runners' dominance in distance running was born out of environmental factors that led to an increase in popularity in the sport. Oftentimes, a rise in popularity in a particular demographic and sport may be intentional. Many countries influence their athletes to partake in sports on the national and international stage for the sole purpose of helping to gain attention and popularity in that country.

While these stereotypes might not seem inherently bad, as they may appear as compliments at first glance; it is important to acknowledge these stereotypes because they can become problematic for both athletes and larger communities. Understanding the environmental factors that may have shaped the way that a game is played or the popularity of a sport is important to make sure that these stereotypes do not become harmful or do not lead to further negative actions against these groups. I hope you enjoyed reading, feel free to leave a comment or question in the forum section.