Beyond the Scoreboard: A Systematic Narrative Review of Sport’s Influence on Cultural Norms and Values
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18803226Keywords:
Sports sociology, Cultural hegemony, Social identity, Social cohesion, Gender norms, Race and ethnicity, National identity, Intersectionality.Abstract
This systematic narrative review examines the intersection of sport with cultural norms and values through an analysis of peer-reviewed studies published from 2015 to 2025. Utilising Gramsci’s theory of cultural hegemony and Social Identity Theory, it synthesises empirical and conceptual research across various sports and contexts. A systematic search identified 68 relevant studies after screening 150 initial records. Thematic synthesis revealed four main clusters: (1) the role of sport in fostering social cohesion and community while also inciting exclusionary rivalries; (2) the perpetuation of gender stereotypes in sports media versus the challenges of women's participation in male-dominated sports; (3) issues of racial and ethnic representation in sport, highlighting both anti-racist activism and discrimination; and (4) the construction of national identity through sport in the context of athlete migration and globalization. Overall, sport is portrayed as a dual phenomenon that can both reinforce hierarchies and serve as a platform for resistance and social change. The review notes a fragmented methodological landscape, with calls for more intersectional, longitudinal, and non-Western perspectives, advocating for research designs that emphasise power, ideology, and identity while promoting inclusion and addressing structural inequalities.
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