‘You Can’t Sit With Us’: Habitus, Capital and Socio-economic Background in the Established Status of University Sport

Introduction: Equality, diversity, and inclusivity are factors in sport which are gaining importance and understanding. The university field is one of the least studied within sport, suggesting it is also one of the least understood. Socio-economic background and class status have a significant influence on university sport and culture, as well as student athletes’ experiences of participating in sport. Using the theoretical concepts of Bourdieu, the impact of class and social structure was examined. Method: Given the interpretivist, constructivist approach, the study was conducted using a mixed methods approach. Sports Union Presidents were used as the sample for the study. This involved the use of an online questionnaire, and follow-up interviews with participants. Quantitative data was recorded in the questionnaire, whilst more in-depth, qualitative data was recorded in the interviews. Appropriate measures were taken to maintain the anonymity of participants. Results: The key findings of the research supported what was expected. The sports often perceived as having class associations were discussed by participants as being played by individuals from a certain socio-economic background, as well as specific behaviours (habitus) being displayed in specific sports (such as ‘lad culture’). Data suggested that having more capital, whether economic, social, or cultural, was advantageous for accessing a wider range of sport. Conclusion: In conclusion, there are problems within university sport regarding accessibility to sport for individuals who come from a lower class status. At current, a status quo exists which is reinforced by the sporting programmes at UK universities. Further research could be conducted to understand the issue in particular sports, or at specific institutions