Sport in Society

Equal Opportunity or Business as Usual?

"Sport in Society brings needed attention and great insight to the expanding power of sport in culture, especially in regard to race, gender, and class. This anthology covers an exceptional range of problems, topics, and issues in pieces that are accessible and to the point. . . . An ideal collection, with substantial and provocative individual selections, a diverse and stimulating array of subjects and, behind it all, a commitment to conscience and social responsibility that is all the more remarkable for its rarity. This scholarly and readable anthology will be of great value to academics, professionals, and the thinking public. For those who not only enjoy sports but also care about them and their role in society, this work is essential reading. Serious, but fun, down-to-earth but not glib, Sport in Society sheds new light on both our sports and our society." --Professor Michael Real Telecommunications and Film Department San Diego State University The crucial issues of the day coalesce around the sports arena. Bridging the gap between scholarship and journalism, Sport in Society takes on the key topics of our times--race, gender, and violence--as they play out in the world of sports. Richard Lapchick, a leading commentator and activist in the area of sport sociology, brings together well-known writers from both academia and journalism to examine many of the more pressing issues that confront sports. In addition to the topics of gender, race, and violence, other parts of the book explore the role of the media, the international scene, and some real-life heroes. Sport in Society will be of interest to individuals across a range of disciplines, what one reviewer calls the "jock academics" in sociology, anthropology, physical education, and communication. It can also be used as a supplement in courses on sport sociology in sociology and physical education.