Engagement - Ethnicity
Physical Education: AQA GCSE, topic 7.1.2
Ethnicity and Engagement in Sport
Ethnicity can play a part in sporting engagement.
Stereotyping
- Some people stereotype Black Caribbean and African groups as having better physiological (biological) make up.
- This stereotype suggests that they are better adapted to some sports.
Inequality
- At the highest level of sport in the UK, there is an imbalance (inequality) in the representation of different ethnic (related to race and nationality) groups.
- E.g. in the English football leagues and UK athletics squads, around 30% of performers are from ethnic minority communities. Only 13% of the general population are from ethnic minority communities.
Physical Characteristics - Ethnicity
The perceived physical characteristics of ethnic groups might impact their engagement in physical activity.
Perceived physical attributes
- Football and athletics rely heavily on speed, power and strength.
- Some people have suggested that certain ethnic groups have high percentages of fast-twitch muscle fibres and a long Achilles tendon. This would mean that they can create greater power transfer and would be well-suited to sports like football and athletics.
- In reality, genes are the main factor and these can vary both between and within ethnic groups.
Inequality across sport
- Lots of other sports need the same physical attributes as football and athletics. Tennis, cycling and rugby are some examples where there is high overlap in required skills.
- But there is not the same representation of ethnic minorities in many of these sports.
Inequality in Representation - Ethnicity
One reason that ethnic groups aren't equally represented across sports might be that many people from ethnic minority communities come historically from lower socio-economic groups (perhaps because they immigrated to escape persecution elsewhere).
How much disposable income you have
- If an individual doesn't have much disposable income (they have less money to spend), they may not be able to afford the equipment and the travel costs to participate in some sports.
Cost of sport
- This may explain the high percentage of ethnic minorities performing in football and athletics compared to more expensive and less accessible sports like polo or rowing.
Test yourself on Engagement - Ethnicity
Which of these is a common stereotype relating to ethnicity?
Select the attributes that would allow you to create greater power transfer.
Why might different ethnic groups not be equally represented across sports?