Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 11-26-2018 2:00 PM Opportunity, Constraint, and Capital in Canadian Ice Hockey Andrew English The University of Western Ontario Supervisor Willson, Andrea The University of Western Ontario Graduate Program in Sociology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree in Master of Arts © Andrew English 2018 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Sociology of Culture Commons Recommended Citation English, Andrew, "Opportunity, Constraint, and Capital in Canadian Ice Hockey" (2018). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 5985. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/5985 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact [email protected]. OPPORTUNITY, CONSTRAINT, AND CAPITAL IN HOCKEY i Abstract The study explored the potential social benefits and motivations of participation in sport beyond those that pertain solely to healthy active livinG. UsinG orGanized youth ice hockey in Canada, the study also examined how cultural context can be a factor in the facilitation of such benefit, as well as the ways the game can reflect and reproduce inequalities in society more generally. A framework based on Pierre Bourdieu’s assertions on social, cultural, economic, and symbolic capital, was used to analyze data from ten semi-structured interviews with men who are former youth hockey players. The interview data revealed that throuGh hockey – as a heteronormative institution – boys and men forge rich and extensive social networks, as well as acquire the linGuistic skills, attitudes, and dispositions that help them to bond in a private and exclusive manner. Furthermore, their participation in an activity increasingly limited to the middle-to-upper class allows them to be socialized amonG this demoGraphic, thus makinG economic capital – throuGh job opportunities, for example – hiGhly extractable from their social and cultural capital. To a certain extent, participants also derived a sense of connectedness to a Canadian national identity due to their participation in an activity that proliferates in their national context. Nevertheless, the study identifies a number of opportunities and constraints that create disparities in participation, and as such, the allocation of benefits. Since these inequalities in sport may help to reproduce inequalities in society at larGe, the study closes with recommendations for policy, proGrams, and future research. Keywords Hockey, Canada, Masculinities, Social Capital, Cultural Capital, Symbolic Capital, Economic Capital, Bourdieu, Sociology of Sport, Constraint, Canadian Culture OPPORTUNITY, CONSTRAINT, AND CAPITAL IN HOCKEY ii AcknowledGements This brief statement is an acknowledGement of persons who were important in helpinG this research undertaking come to fruition, and be seen through to its finish. I would first like to express my profound gratitude to Dr. Andrea Willson of the Faculty of SocioloGy at the University of Western Ontario, who has demonstrated faith in my work since my underGraduate years. Dr. Willson stepped outside of her reGular research interests so that I could study an aspect of my Greatest passion - the Game of hockey. More importantly, she consistently acted as a support, provided insight and guidance while allowing the voice of the paper to remain my own, and was able to answer questions and address concerns at any time. Second, I would like to thank Dr. Lorraine Davies of the School of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies at the University of Western Ontario for agreeinG to serve as a supervisory committee member and second reader for the project. Dr. Davies saw the merits in this research in its proposal staGes and was able to provide revisions and feedback reGularly and promptly throuGhout the research process. Her beinG well-versed in qualitative research and gender studies were seen as especially valued contributions to the research team. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge my parents for providing me with support and encouragement throuGhout my time studyinG at university. ConductinG this research prompted me to reflect on and appreciate the sacrifices they’ve made for me, and the opportunities they have provided me. Andrew English, Author OPPORTUNITY, CONSTRAINT, AND CAPITAL IN HOCKEY iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT . i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . .ii TABLE OF CONTENTS . iii LIST OF FIGURES . iv LIST OF APPENDICES. iv 1. INTRODUCTION . 1 • 1.1 Overview and Objectives . .1 • 1.2 Rationale . .3 2. LITERATURE REVIEW . 7 • 2.1 Sports in Academia and Society . 7 o 2.1.1 SocioloGy of Sport . 7 o 2.1.2 Sports in Culture . 10 o 2.1.3 Sports and HeGemonic Masculinity . 12 • 2.2 Benefits of Sport . .15 o 2.2.1 Capital . .15 o 2.2.2 Economic Capital . .19 o 2.2.3 Symbolic Capital . .20 o 2.2.4 Social Capital . 23 o 2.2.5 Cultural Capital . 25 • 2.3 Hockey and Capital: An Imperfect Relationship . .28 • 2.4 Inequalities in Hockey . .33 • 2.5 SummarizinG the Literature. .42 3. METHODOLOGY. 46 • 3.1 FraminG the Research . 46 • 3.2 Ethics . .49 • 3.3 Data Collection . .51 o 3.3.1 Participants . .51 o 3.3.2 Interview Guide/Interviews . 55 • 3.4 Analytical Framework . 58 4. RESULTS . 61 • 4.1 LocatinG Hockey in the Masculine-Canadian Experience . 61 • 4.2 Ice Hockey and the Acquisition of Capital . 67 o 4.2.1 Social Capital . 67 o 4.2.2 Cultural Capital . .80 o 4.2.3 Symbolic Capital . .92 o 4.2.4 Economic Capital. .96 o 4.2.5 Interconnections Between the Four Forms of Capital . .103 o 4.2.6 Counters to Capital . 105 • 4.3 Inequalities in Hockey. .109 o 4.3.1 Inputs of Capital; Cost-Constraints and Politics. .109 o 4.3.2 Other Constraints – Race/Ethnicity and Sex/Gender. .115 o 4.3.2 Opportunity. .119 5. DISCUSSION. 122 • 5.1 SummarizinG and InterpretinG the Results. .122 • 5.2 StrenGths and Limitations. 131 • 5.3 Future Directions . ..