Ryan Torrie
09/17/09
Sociology 100
Professor Van Aken
Periodical Article Review
I.
A. Article Title: “Women Sports, and Science: Do Female Athletes have an advantage?”
B. Author: Sandra L. Hanson
C. Periodical Title: Sociology of Education 1998
D. Date: April 1998
E. Pages: 13
II. Summary:
“In the United States, sports are a social institution constructed by men that reflects traditional male stereotypes of dominance and aggression” (Messner 1992). Women typically aren’t considered to be well equipped to participate in sports; their participation is viewed as “unfeminine and thus undesirable”. But from 1970 to 1994 the number of female participants in high school sports has gone from .25 million to about 2.3 million (Leonard 1988: Melncij etal. 1992; Women’s Sports Foundation). Today women represent 37% of high school athletes. The author describes sports as having both a positive effect and a negative effect; she describes these different views by using the functionalist approach and the conflict approach. It explains how women can use their learning experiences in sports and apply them successfully in other fields of work such as science and mathematics. Throughout the reading there are research data tables, statistics and research studies to determine patterns and information. I believe this article was written by an applied sociologist because of the gathering and analyzing of information.
III. Application to Sociology
The Author describes two different ways that sports could have a positive and negative effect on a young female. The functionalist view, one which I agree on, shows how sports can often help boost confidence and help a young mind excel and become responsible and successful. While on the other hand the conflict view sheds light on the greedy side of sports, how it can turn someone selfish and can produce alienation and exploitation for someone who desires power over others. In our...