Sportswomanship: The cultural acceptance of sport for women versus the accommodation of cultured women in sport

Abstract

"Good sport" is a term given to the competitor exhibiting valued social behaviors while engaged in a sporting contest, thought to be aware of the sociocultural values of fairness, civil courtesy, and ethical behavior. Early social-psychologists theorized that these social values are developed from personally and socially preferred modes of conduct (Rokeach, 1969), guidelines for right and wrong, good or bad, and appropriateness or inappropriateness being standards of ethical behavior based on social values. Adhering to social values and ethical standards of conduct, the "good sport" is said to display good sportsmanship, a term difficult to objectify. It is a relative term, since ethical values in sport vary according to the type of sporting contest, the place, the time era of the event, and the orientation of the competitors. Generally, sportsmanship means a commitment to play according to the written rules and the spirit of the rules, and acting responsibly, fairly, and respectfully toward opponents (Rudd and Stoll, 1998).