Making the Team: Inside the World of Sports Initiations and Hazing (repost)

Media attention has recently raised public awareness of hazing rituals, which has generated curiosity, interest, and debate about hazing as an initiation practice. Making the Team is a ground-breaking collection of contemporary perspectives on this topic. This book provides a theoretical analysis of hazing from a sociological perspective, both in the United States and in Canada. It is designed to provide an understanding of hazing for sociology and sport management classes, and is, also highly suitable for courses that examine gender roles and socialization. The collection chronicles the hazing practices that exist in sport, and a historical overview of hazing, and its emergence in today’s sport culture. It also provides a theoretical and legal guide for understanding and managing hazing in sport. Some writers offer up practical alternatives for creating a positive sport culture while managing hazing within sport programs through changes in policy and the provision of alternative activities. The discussion ranges from an understanding of the role of tradition, power, and violence in hazing, to the ways in which it serves as a confirmation of masculinity and dominance. These contentious issues engage the reader in critical thought about an aspect of sport that has until recently remained unchallenged.