Basketball Ethnography

Ethnography is the systematic study of people and cultures, it is designed to explore cultural phenomena where the researcher observes society from the point of view of the subject of the study. It is the best qualitative method for collecting data often used in the social and behavioral sciences. Data are collected through observations and interviews, which are then used to draw conclusions about how societies and individuals function

Basketball was a new experience to me a few years ago, but i never realized I was going to love it. When I was younger, I’ve always wanted to play the sport of basketball, and I got my opportunity to play when I was in fifth grade at Monte Vista Elementary.

“According anywhere from Australia to the United States and everywhere in between the game of basketball is played.” (Faurschou, “History of basketball”). The game is played anywhere where you can get a ball and something to throw the ball through. “G.L Pierce patented basketball on June 25, 1929.” (Bellis, “Basketball-James Naismith”). Basketball became an official Olympic sport in the 1936 game.

In sociology, there are 3 paradigms. There is the conflict theory perspective, the symbolic-interaction perspective and the structural-functionalist perspective. From a conflict paradigm point of view, the essay would focus on gender and how the assumption that girls lack the same level of strength and stamina as men. The WNBA (Women National Basketball League) doesn’t get the same amount of respect as the males do in the NBA (National Basketball League). Another issue could be that the NBA players have a higher annual salary than an average teacher. A structural-functionalist approach could be focused on how it creates jobs (the NBA) and academically too. Basketball could also be focused on how

There are over 5,000 different types of sports. Basketball, a popular and world renowned athletic is a subculture Paul cuffee student Ramses cruz is part of. Especially now when the season is just beginning and being part of the Junior Varsity team is his main focus.

We can all agree that basketball is almost becoming popular around the world. So many people play this sport but do people know how basketball started and how it evolute throughout the years since basketball was borned? So like every other sports and creations, there has to be a inventor and in basketball there was a man by the name of Dr. James Naismith. “Created in 1891 in a Springfield, Massachusetts YMCA gymnasium has grown into a game played worldwide by more than 300 million people”(historybits.com). So this game has been out for a very long period of time with many changing of the rules in basketball throughout the history. When it was first played in the late 1800s, there were different rules and even different looking basketball. As for the rules, originally there would be 10 people on the court but it first started with 18 people on the court which after couple of years it changed to only 10 people. Substitution was also different and the rule for this was at first no one can enter until the next game. “The rule was changed in 1920 to allow a player to re-enter the game one time. In 1934, the rule was expanded to allow players to re-enter the game twice, and, in 1945 the rule was finally changed to permit players to return to the game an unlimited number of times”(hooptactics.com). The first basketball looked very alike a football but round. The backboards were made out of straight wood and the baskets were made out of peach baskets or square boxes. There was only

In today’s world, men’s sports seem to always be in the spotlight while women’s sports do not draw much attention, as if women who play sports are not taken seriously. This happens on all levels of sports, and I have personally experienced it myself through basketball in high school. While the gym would be full for any of the boys’ games, our games had very little support with almost empty bleachers. When it comes to the professional level, when women’s sports do get covered by the media, most people judge female athletes more on their looks rather than their athletic skill, which is negative and unfair.

Physical traits are some of the most diverse parts between people. No one quite looks alike, and it’s always been that way. “The variety of our skin tones can confuse, bemuse, delight” is something Angelou speaks in in “Human Family”, while in Obama’s speech it is mentioned as to “provide men and women of every color and creed” their equality too. Physical attributes have halted equality movements for the longest time. Being different in the color of skin, a person’s height or even their weight has caused others to feel superior.

The game of basketball is recognizable high school or the NBA. The sport is very popular and is played worldwide. Everyone may also know the sport from some names of basketball stars. Maybe the names Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Dr. J, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, or Carmelo Anthony ring a bell. They are all outstanding players of the game and have a significant understanding of how the game is played. Basketball has changed alot overtime and has become one of Americas most played sports.

The way people perceive their body image is based on many different variables in his or her life. Today, one’s body image plays a key role in who they are and the popularity of that person. A man may choose a body image that is larger than himself because in society, a more masculine male is a better protector than a smaller male. It seems that women may choose to be bigger or smaller than their actual body image because the media influences perceive that a smaller woman is more attractive in society than a heavier one. An assumption of why men and women would rate themselves larger or smaller could be the result of trying to fit into the perceived societal

I could feel my heart start to race as sweat ran down my forehead, the ref handed me the ball. It had been only last game when I sent the ball into the net giving the other team the game. It was as if I had throw the ball up in slow motion barely able to move my legs as I hit the ball. I watched nervously as the ball sped over the net. I finally heard the whistle. My team had won the game.

I actually really enjoyed reading this eye-opening chapter. I almost found it refreshing because society usually ignores or lack to analyze the social construction and the stereotypes surrounding the male’s physique. In many different ways, I would argue that, in many cases, men have it just as bad as or possibly even worse than women because there is very little to no variety in the male’s appearance in the media. Lorber and Moore support this claim by stating, “The standards for beauty are so narrow that one good-looking man in a magazine very much resembles others,” (89). Women have the pleasure of seeing different sizes and body shape on TV and they are usually represented in a positive light. However, men do not have this pleasure. The media advertises the same type of

Body size and media has been an ever-growing topic in the recent years. As more people are becoming aware of how media portrays this idea of the ideal body size, the media still has a huge influence on how others interact with each other. For example, one study shows how because of media, high school aged girls begin to form relationships around the ideal body size.

Winter had come, it was starting to be frozen outside every morning, basketball season was upon us. Was the greatest moment of the year, and was time to lay it all out on the line. The starting position was up in the air, between me and a sophomore. Since I had such a passion for the game, every day was like paradise. Practices were basic, you had your typical start of practice drills here and there and then to the more complex details: the plays, the sets, then after that you went full court 5 on 5 for some live scrimmaging. There were times where it was brutal, but then there was also joking times where we could run through the motions. But through all of the struggling and fighting throughout the season, it all payed off.

As I tucked in my Minnesota Heat uniform, I felt ready to play some basketball. I was focused. I was prepared. I was primed to win (repetition). Playing for the championship, I prodded myself to try my best, and no matter the outcome, to be satisfied with the way I played.