Research on Educational Sport

IdentifyingThe pattern of social distinction in sports based on Bourdieu's theory

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

ALI Maleki 1
FARZAD ghafouri 2
Habib Honari 3
Rasool Norouzi Seyed Hossini 4

1 PhD student in Sports Management, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran,Iran

2 . Associate professor in sport management, Department of sport management, Faculty of physical education and sport sciences, Allameh Tabatabaei university, Tehran, Iran.

3 Associate professor in sport management, Department of sport management, Faculty of physical education and sport sciences, Allameh Tabatabaei university, Tehran, Iran.

4 . Associate Professor in Sport Management, Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22089/res.2025.17719.2614
Abstract
Background and Purpose
Sports function as a significant socio-cultural phenomenon, central to societal structures. The French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu conceptualizes this as "sports distinction," where athletic practices become markers of social difference and identity. This phenomenon, while evident in advanced nations, is increasingly observable in developing countries like Iran, where unique patterns of sports engagement and valuation have emerged in recent decades. The production and reproduction of this social distinction are driven by a complex interplay of diverse social factors. Therefore, the central objective of this research is to systematically identify and analyze the key social factors constituting the foundation of sports distinction within Iranian society. The guiding research question is: Through what specific mechanisms and social factors is distinction in the realm of sports produced and reproduced in Iran? Understanding these foundational elements is imperative for effective sports policy, strategic planning, and nuanced sociological analysis in the Iranian context.
Methods
The present study, given its fundamental purpose and qualitative research approach, employed a systematic thematic analysis method to ensure a comprehensive exploration of the research phenomenon. Participants included a diverse group of academic elites and experienced professionals in the fields of sociology, sports sociology, and sports management. At this stage, 17 individuals were carefully selected through purposive sampling with maximum diversity or heterogeneity to capture a wide spectrum of perspectives, continuing until the criterion of thematic saturation was thoroughly achieved. The data analysis followed a rigorous six-stage procedure: initial data management, systematic category construction and compilation, strategic category grouping at higher levels of abstraction, comprehensive data mapping, in-depth discovery of meanings and underlying themes, and final development of the thematic analysis network. During the critical category construction and compilation stage, the row-by-row coding method was meticulously applied to segment and deconstruct the raw data. This involved separating the transcribed interviews into distinct, meaningful sections. After a careful and iterative examination of the semantic similarities and differences between these text units, specific conceptual titles were precisely assigned to each segment according to its unique semantic load or central idea, forming the foundational concepts for the subsequent theoretical model.
Results
The analysis revealed a complex network of factors that collectively shape the process of social distinction in sports participation. These factors were categorized into distinct yet interconnected concepts, primarily drawn from Bourdieu's theoretical framework. The identified categories include physical characteristics and geographical conditions, which constitute the foundational and often non-voluntary aspects of an individual's position. Beyond these, various forms of capital were critical: cultural capital (embodied in knowledge, tastes, dispositions), social capital (resources based on networks and relationships), and economic capital (material and financial resources). The operation of these capitals is governed by underlying cultural logics and political logics, which refer to the unspoken rules, values, and power structures that legitimize certain sports over others. Furthermore, the internalization of these social structures forms an individual's habitus—a system of durable dispositions that guides their choices and practices in the sports realm. These elements manifest and compete within specific social arenas or fields, namely the power field, culture field, media field, education field, family field, and peer field. The ultimate outcome of this intricate interplay is the production and reproduction of sports distinction, where certain physical activities become markers of social class and identity. These diverse categories were subsequently synthesized and grouped into six overarching, thematic constructs that form the core of the proposed model. The first theme, Field Determination, posits that an individual's choice and access to sport are not merely personal preferences but are structurally shaped by the objective relations and specific logics of the various fields they inhabit. The family field transmits values and economic means, the education field provides or limits opportunities, and the media field symbolically valorizes certain sports, making them desirable. The second theme, Differentiation in Capital, expands on how the volume and composition of an individual's capital (economic, cultural, social) create a hierarchy of access. Sports like golf or equestrianism, with high economic barriers, function as effective filters, while other activities may require specific cultural knowledge or social connections for entry. The third theme, Distinctive Habitus, refers to the embodiment of class conditions. The habitus generates tastes and a "feel for the game" that align with an individual's social trajectory, making some sports feel "natural" and others "unthinkable" or "distasteful," thereby perpetuating social stratification through seemingly innate preferences. The fourth theme, Cultural-Gender Logic, highlights how cultural logics are deeply intertwined with gendered expectations. Many sports are strongly coded as masculine or feminine, and participation is often a way of performing and conforming to socially approved gender roles, thus adding a layer of symbolic constraint to sporting choices. The fifth theme, Different Natural Potentials, acknowledges the role of physical endowment and geographical context. However, from a Bourdieusian perspective, even these "natural" factors are socially perceived, developed, and valued differently depending on the field. A tall stature is potential capital in basketball but not in gymnastics. Finally, the sixth theme, Sports Distinction, is the culmination of the process. It is the mechanism through which the interplay of fields, capitals, habitus, and logics leads to the choice of sports that serve to differentiate social groups from one another and to symbolically express their relative positions in the social space.
Conclusion
The formation of sports distinction among Iranian athletes is a multidimensional phenomenon, driven by an interplay of individual and social-structural factors. On an individual level, it is shaped by an athlete's "sports habitus" and their possession of various forms of capital, particularly cultural and economic resources. Socially, the specific logic and structure of the sports field itself are influential. This process is fundamentally structural, as the dynamics within this field are determined by a network of relations involving media, education, family, power structures, peers, and broader cultural forces. Crucially, the external fields of power and culture exert significant influence on the internal logic of sports. Therefore, in a society like Iran, both structural conditions and functional mechanisms work collectively to produce sports distinction. A comprehensive analysis of this phenomenon must account for all these interconnected factors to be complete.
Article message
The identification of patterns of social distinction in sports provides a critical foundation for policymakers and coaches to address disparities in sports access. Acknowledging the influence of economic, cultural, and social capital allows for the development of strategies that foster a more equitable distribution of participatory opportunities in sports.
Ethical Consideration
This study was conducted in full compliance with all applicable ethical guidelines and standards.
Authors' Contributions
The authors have equally contributed to the writing of the article.
Conflicts of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
The authors extend their gratitude to all individuals who contributed to this research.
 

Keywords

Sports distinction
sports field
weak relative independence
field determination

Subjects

 
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  • Receive Date 04 February 2025
  • Revise Date 29 September 2025
  • Accept Date 11 October 2025

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