Sports and Social Change the Essay

Total Length: 851 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 3

Page 1 of 3

The world will not be able to change if people such as Davis, and others like him, have to live in fear of rejection simply because they are different from other people.

However, the preceding quotation from Davis illustrates what is actually at the heart of the issue of social change represented by the NFL and sports in general in terms of tolerance and embracing diversity. The NFL is actually one of the modern incantations of ancient European gladiator sports. As such, there is a sense of hyper-masculinity that pervades it, whether one is examining the players, the nature of the game itself, or even the environments and surroundings in which the sport is watched and enjoyed. It is this degree of masculinity that makes coming out so difficult for NFL players (as well as the fact that players routinely see one another naked in locker rooms). And it is just because of this degree of masculinity that the NFL is the perfect organization to show that if diversity is willingly practiced here, it can be so virtually anywhere in America.


Thus, it certainly appears that the NFL is making progress -- both in terms of practicing diversity and tolerance within its own ranks as well as providing a viable model for the rest of the country to do so as well. One of the most interesting aspects about this fact is that in doing so the NFL is actually hinting at the larger social significance of sports today. Sports actually operate as a microcosm of the nation as a whole. As such, it can play a substantial part in effecting social change -- either for better or for the worse. These recent developments seemingly suggest that the NFL is actively working to do the former of these two options. Perhaps if Sam is actually drafted into the league and the NFL gets it first openly gay player, it can make even more progress with this issue and its players can truly become "heroes" (Blais).

Works.....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Sports And Social Change The" (2014, March 31) Retrieved June 19, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/sports-social-change-186535