IDEOLOGIES BELIEFS AND WORLD VIEWS ON RECREATION AND

IDEOLOGIES, BELIEFS AND WORLD VIEWS ON RECREATION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES ACROSS CULTURES AND GENDERS

• The ideologies, beliefs and world views that people have on recreation and physical activity differ across cultures and genders. • The reasons why people participate, to what extent recreation and physical activity are encouraged, and the specific types of recreational and physical activities that are emphasised, vary a great deal.

EASTERN CULTURE • In some eastern countries forms of martial arts and self defence are practised by many people because these activities are a part of their ideologies, belief systems and religion. • Sumo wrestlers are seen as hero’s in Japan. • Yoga is seen as more of a spiritual activity than a physical activity in India.

WESTERN CULTURE • In the Western Culture sport is seen as a way to make money. • Lots of money is spent on sporting events activities, and sponsorship. • Sporting is a huge industry, with many job opportunities. • People world wide watch and participate in western sport such as golf, soccer, motor racing. • Sport bring people together.

SOUTH AFRICAN CULTURE • Under apartheid certain sports were designated for a specific cultural group. • Rugby was seen as for white males. • Most white schools offered rugby and compulsory for boys. • In African schools soccer was promoted. • With democracy, there has been an improvement and now all people are allowed and encouraged to play the sports they would like to play.

TRADITIONAL CULTURES • Culture plays an important part in the choice of recreation. • Eg. Stick fighting is popular in the Nguni culture. • Men were encouraged to practice stick fighting, a form of martial art, to prepare them to become warriors. • It is still practiced today and a very important part of indigenous culture.

INDIGENOUS GAMES • In traditional cultures if you are good in sport it boosts your social status. • Sport is usually a social or recreational activity and is not seen as a way to make money. • Sport also teaches young people the value of their culture, such as teamwork and selfdiscipline. • Sport is a way of bringing people in the community together.

WORLD VIEWS ON RECREATION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY • The Olympic Games are held every Four years. • The best sport people from all over the world compete for a gold medal in a variety of sport. • Differences in ideologies, beliefs and world views become less important than the opportunity to compete on the world stage. • Increasingly women are competing in the Olympics. • More and more nations are sending their athletes to the event.

• Sportspeople get the opportunity to learn about other cultures as they spread a unified image of participation in sport. • Events like the Olympics can help to encourage all nations to participate in and have equal access to physical activity.

VIEWS REGARDING GENDER • Participation in sport and many recreational activities is still dominated by men. • People believe men are more competitive and more aggressive, and that these qualities are necessary to play sport or to be a winner. • Men not interested in sport are often ridiculed. • Women that are good at sport are seen as to manly.

• In some cultures women are severely restricted on what they can wear to play in sport. • Therefore they are often marginalised. • E. g. Iranian women were disqualified from participating in a soccer match because their dress code did not match the FIFA’s rules.