So all kids can play? Looking beyond the rhetoric of an equal playing field

Abstract

This paper explores the meaning and experiences of sport for young people living with lower incomes. Using data from interviews with 10 young people (aged 13–18) and six mothers, we engage with the work of Pierre Bourdieu to provide insight into the varied ways young people living with lower incomes were influenced by their social contexts. Narrative inquiry was used to further understand the meanings of sport for participants and the ways these were tied to their material conditions. Using creative non-fiction, research findings were transformed into stories to present the experiences of three teenagers: Joey, Stacey and Nathan. The concepts of habitus, capital and field are used in the discussion to explicitly theorise the similarities and differences between the stories and show the heterogeneity of sport experiences for young people living with lower incomes. Overall, the paper contributes empirical understanding by outlining the ways in which material conditions and family circumstances shaped young peoples’ experiences differently. In doing so, it disrupts the idea that sport is a level playing field and challenges the notion that sport is a worthwhile pursuit for all young people.

Keywords:

• Bourdieu
• Lareau
• low income
• material conditions
• sport
• youth
• narrative inquiry

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the families who participated in this research. Your stories and insights have provided so much understanding in relation to this issue. We would also like to thank Strathcona County Recreation, Parks and Culture and Alberta Recreation and Parks Association. As partners in the study, your many contributions made this research possible.

Notes

1. ‘Material conditions’ refers to an individual’s economic status that affects their consciousness and opportunities, for example, their education, family structure, or their patterns of consumption (Bairner, 2007).