Culture, Sport and Physical Activity

Culture, Sport, and Physical Activity focuses on the influences of culture and society on human movement, such as sport, physical activity, and fitness. The text introduces and analyzes current issues of importance for those concerned with human movement and culture, whether it is in the context of teaching physical education, coordinating/ marketing sport and recreational programs, coaching or serving the general population - young and old - with any form of physical activity. Culture, Sport, and Physical Activity incorporates interdisciplinary, cutting-edge work reflecting various research paradigms from these theoretical perspectives: sociology, psychology, history, philosophy, anthropology, women's studies and cultural studies. The fact that more and more people of all ages are participating in sport and physical activity means that serious attention must be paid to increasing awareness of the positive as well as the negative effects of such involvement. Indeed, sport has become a major socio-cultural factor in people's lives. In the USA, there is hardly anyone who is not touched by this movement; however, people have very different experiences based on their cultural and socio-economic background, including gender, race/ethnicity, age, ability, as well as their sexual and religious orientations. This book will educate students at institutions of higher learning in the USA about the importance of socio-cultural as well as psychological factors influencing people's choices, opportunities, experiences, as well as limitations in the domain of human movement.

Karin Volkwein-Caplan, PhD, German and American, is a professor of Cultural Studies in the Department of Kinesiology at West Chester University of Pennsylvania/USA and guest professor at the University of Freiburg/Germany. She has widely researched and published on gender and racial issues, HIV/AIDS in sport, ethics and sport, as well as healthy aging and fitness. Her books include: 'Fitness as Cultural Phenomenon', 'HIV/AIDS and Sport', 'Sexual Harassment in Sport', 'Culture, Sport and Physical Activity', 'Sport, Culture & Society - A Workbook', and 'Cultural Contours of the Body' (with J. Tahmaseb McConatha). She also co-edits two book series with Meyer & Meyer Sports: 'Sport, Culture and Society' and 'Healthy Aging and Fitness'.