KINE 235 Sociology of Sport
This course explores sport as a key social institution through which power, identity, and inequality are produced, contested, and negotiated. Using sociological theory and empirical research, we examine how sport intersects with systems of race, class, gender, sexuality, and nationhood—both reflecting and reshaping dominant ideologies—in the United States.
Students will engage with sport as a site of cultural meaning and social struggle, analyzing topics such as athlete labor, educational institutions, media representation, and global sport industries. We pay particular attention to how marginalized communities navigate and challenge exclusion within athletic spaces, and how sport is mobilized in the service of both social control and collective resistance.
Class sessions incorporate case studies, media critique, and contemporary examples—from high school athletics to global mega-events. This course is ideal for students seeking a deeper understanding of sport beyond the scoreboard.
Cross Listed Courses
SOC 235