It progresses by hunch, vision, and intuition. Much of its change through time does not record a closer approach to absolute truth, but the alteration of cultural contexts that influence it so strongly. The body ideal of contemporary Western societies is linked to youth. There is a widespread idea that participation in high-performance sport is good for children. In addition to providing physical benefits, such participation is widely believed to cultivate moral and ethical character by requiring self-discipline, organization, hard work, and goal orientation.
Many parents believe such participation keeps children off the streets, and off drugs.
The tyranny of health promotion. The last well person. Sport and Gender in Canada . Oxford University Press. The relationship of friendship networks, sports experiences, and gender to expressed pain thresholds.