Race and Gender Differences in Sport Participation as a Function of Self-Schema

Abstract

The present investigation studied the influence of race and gender on sport and physical activity choices by regarding specific sport and physical activities as appropriate for participation or self-defining for race and gender groups. The study was designed to confirm the existence of self-schemata for sport and physical activities. A computer-generated instrument was employed to assess the existence and strength of self-schemata. Results of logistic regression analysis suggest that self-schemata for particular sport and physical activities indeed exist and certain schemata differ by race and/or gender. Understanding the dynamics of the development of selfschemata development and the influences of race and gender holds potential for a more comprehensive explanation of the disparity in sport and physical activity participation and performance.

Gender Differences in Beliefs About the Influence of Ability and Effort in Sport and Physical Activity

“…As argued by Eccles and her colleagues Eccles & Harold, 1991;Wigfield, Eccles, & Rodriguez, 1998), gender role socialization and gender intensification at puberty may have influenced the development of men's and women's competence beliefs and expectations for success. As a result, men and women have higher levels of perceived competence and expectations for success when the activity is perceived as gender-typical (Harrison et al, 1999;Lee et al, 1999;Lirgg et al, 1996). Men in our study tended to rate natural ability as more influential for activities that were gender-typical for them, but the same was not true for women.…”

“…Activities associated with strength and power such as football, baseball, basketball, and weight lifting are usually perceived as masculine activities, whereas activities such as gymnastics, dance, and aerobics are considered feminine activities (Eder & Parker, 1987;Weinberg, 1997). These views have limited women's involvement in physical activity and sports, especially in vigorous activities that are traditionally male-dominant (Harrison, Lee, & Belcher, 1999). As a consequence, men and women have particular expectations about their capabilities in various sports, and their subsequent attributions are likely to be affected by those expectations (Biddle, 1993;Jacobs, Lanza, Osgood, Eccles, & Wigfield, 2002).…”

Intercollegiate athletics and modeling multiculturalism

“…Institutions should consider developing or supporting youth sport development programs for nonrevenue sports targeted at minorities, in the same way they do for similar programs focused on academic development. There are challenges associated with self-segregation of athletes into certain sports (Harrison, Lee, and Belcher, 1999). Yet a number of programs have proven to be successful, such as the National Youth Sports Program, Lacrosse for Life, and USA Swimming.…”

The social construction of gender identity amongst mountaineers

“…Different investigations have demonstrated that the gender variable has a determining influence on the social structure of sport (Harrison, Lee & Belcher, 1999;Dunning, 1999;Puig & Soler, 2004;Ottogalli-Mozzacavallo, 2004). From this literature, we should emphasize two essential pieces of evidence.…”