Athletes serve as role models for children and youth. Sports provide an outlet for relieving tension in a socially acceptable way for both players and spectators. Sports promote solidarity, binding communities and nations together. Sports promote good health and well being. Sports can also be dysfunctional, overemphasizing winning to the neglect of the academic achievement of college students and the good health and well being of players.
Sports discriminate against women and minorities.
The following examples reflect the conflict perspective. Sports reflect patterns of social inequality in society, since some are so expensive that they exclude all but the relatively wealthy. Sports define relationships in terms of statuses and roles and subsequent role performance. Sports consist of a social world of meaningful symbols and signs. Sociology of North American Sport .