In light of Pierre Bourdieu's general idea of class-based lifestyles and, in particular, White and Wilson's recent study of how sport spectatorship was differentiated according to socioeconomic status (SES) in Canada, this article seeks to broaden our understanding of the relationship between class and sport spectatorship. The empirical analysis attempts both to replicate and extend the work by White and Wilson within a Scandinavian context, using data from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Three main findings are presented: (1) Household income is positively related to sport spectatorship, although not in a linear fashion. (2) Education shows no systematic relationship with sport spectatorship. (3) Cultural capital and sport participation are both positively related to sport spectatorship. It is concluded that more research on the links between class and sport spectatorship is needed before any certain and general conclusions regarding this relationship can be considered verified.
Bourdieu, P. (1984) Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste.London: Routledge.
3.
Bourdieu, P. (1978) `Sport and Social Class', Social Science Information17: 819-840.
4.
Chaney, D. (1996) Lifestyles.London: Routledge.
5.
Cockerham, W. , Lueschen, G., Kunz, G. and Spaet, J.L. (1986) `Social Stratification and Self-Management of Health', Journal of Health and Social Behavior27: 1-14.
6.
Crompton, R. (1998) Class and Stratification (2nd edn). Cambridge: Polity Press.
7.
Crompton, R. (1996) `Consumption and Class Analysis', in S. Edgell, K. Hetherington and A. Warde (eds) Consumption Matters.Oxford: Blackwell.
8.
Curtis, J. and Milton, B. (1976) `Social Status and the Active Society: National Data on Leisure-Time Physical and Sport Activities in Canada', in R. Gruneau and J. Albinson (eds) Canadian Sport: Sociological Perspectives.Toronto: Addison-Wesley.
9.
DiMaggio, P. (1994) `Social Stratification, Life-Style, and Social Cognition', in D.B. Grusky (ed.) Social Stratification: Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological Perspective.Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
10.
Droomers, M. , Schrijvers, C.T.M., van de Mheen, H. and Mackenbach, J.P. (1998) `Educational Differences in Leisure-Time Physical Inactivity: A Descriptive and Explanatory Study', Social Science & Medicine47: 1665-1676.
11.
Eitzen, S. (1996) `Classism in Sport: The Powerless Bear the Burden', Journal of Sport and Social Issues20: 95-105.
12.
Esping-Andersen, G. (1990) The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism.Cambridge: Polity Press.
13.
Fishwick, L. and Hayes, D. (1989) `Sport for Whom? Differential Participation Patterns of Recreational Athletes in Leisure-Time Physical Activities', Sociology of Sport Journal6: 269-277.
14.
Ford, E.S. , Merritt, R.K., Heath, G.W., Powell, K.E., Washburn, R.A., Kriska, A. and Haile, G. (1991) `Physical Activity Behaviors in Lower and Higher Socioeconomic Status Populations', American Journal of Epidemiology133: 1246-1256.
15.
Holt, D.B. (1995) `How Consumers Consume: A Typology of Consumption Practices', Journal of Consumer Research22: 1-16.
16.
Jarvie, G. and Maquire, J. (1994) Sport and Leisure in Social Thought.London: Routledge.
17.
Kohn, M.L. (1987) `Cross-National Research as an Analytical Strategy', American Sociological Review52: 713-731.
18.
Lascu, D. , Giese, T., Toolan, C., Guehring, B. and Mercer, J. (1995) `Sport Involvement: A Relevant Individual Difference Factor in Spectator Sports', Sport Marketing Quarterly4: 41-46.
19.
Lavrie, D.A. and Arnett, D.B. (2000) `Factors Affecting Fan Attendance: The Influence of Identity Salience and Satisfaction', Journal of Leisure Research32: 225-246.
20.
Long, J.S. (1997) Regression Models for Categorical and Limited Dependent Variables.Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
21.
Lynch, J.W. , Kaplan, G.A. and Salonen, J.T. (1997) `Why do Poor People Behave Poorly? Variation in Adult Health Behaviours and Psychological Characteristics by Stages of the Socioeconomic Lifecourse', Social Science & Medicine44: 809-819.
22.
Madrigal, R. (1995) `Cognitive and Affective Determinants of Fan Satisfaction with Sporting Event Attendance', Journal of Leisure Research27: 205-227.
23.
Pakulski, J. and Waters, M. (1996) `The Reshaping and Dissolution of Social Class in Advanced Society', Theory and Society25: 667-691.
24.
Petersen, T. (1985) `A Comment on Presenting Results from Logit and Probit Models', American Sociological Review50: 130-131.
25.
Peterson, R.A. and Kern, R.M. (1996) `Changing Highbrow Taste: From Snob to Omnivore', American Sociological Review61: 900-907.
26.
Peterson, R.A. and Simkus, A. (1992) `How Musical Taste Groups Mark Occupational Status Groups', in M. Lamont and M. Fournier (eds) Cultivating Differences: Symbolic Boundaries and the Making of Inequality.Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
27.
Shamir, B and Ruskin, H. (1984) `Sport Participation vs. Sport Spectatorship: Two Modes of Leisure Behavior', Journal of Leisure Research16: 9-21.
28.
Slater, D. (1997) Consumer Culture and Modernity.Cambridge: Polity Press.
29.
Tomlinson, A. , ed. (1990) Consumption, Identity and Style.London: Routledge.
30.
Vaage, O.F. (1996) Kultur- og medievaner: Statistiske analyser nr. 13.Oslo and Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå.
31.
Warde, A. (1990) `Introduction to the Sociology of Consumption', Sociology28: 877-898.
32.
Warde, A. , Martens, L. and Olsen, W. (1999) `Consumption and the Problem of Variety: Cultural Omnivorousness, Social Distinction and Dining Out', Sociology33: 105-127.
33.
White, P. and Wilson, B. (1999) `Distinctions in the Stands', International Review for the Sociology of Sport34: 245-264.
