Sports and Social Inequality

The course presents critical sociological perspectives on inequality in sport and physical education. Topics include social class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, and age. The interrelation of key themes and issues relating to each topic will be discussed, using relevant social theory to aid critical analysis. The main focus will be on how social inequalities are constructed, reproduced, and changing in different sport and physical education contexts.

Knowledge - the student will gain knowledge about:

• How social inequalities in sport contexts are constructed, reproduced, and changing.
• Which social theories are the most adequate to explain and understand the processes and mechanisms constructing and reproducing inequalities in sport and physical education.
• The ways in which inequalities in sport and physical education interrelate.
• Methodological considerations when researching social inequalities in sport and physical education.

Skills - the student shall develop skills:

• To critically examine relevant social issues and inequalities in sport and physical education, applying social theory in a competent and independent manner.
• To be able to discuss key empirical, theoretical, and/or methodological issues both orally and in writing.

Combined lectures and seminars, up to 4 hours every week.