Conflict theory argues that sport and society are shaped by economic forces and exploitation, leading to which stance toward the status quo?

• A. Rejects the status quo
• B. Maintains the status quo
• C. Focuses on cultural production
• D. Studies how identities relate to sport

Answer: (A)

Conflict theory in sport emphasizes how economic forces and exploitation shape both sport and broader society, framing social arrangements as mechanisms that benefit those in power rather than neutral or universally good. From this perspective, the status quo is viewed as something to challenge and change in order to reduce inequalities, not something to preserve. This makes rejecting the status quo the natural stance, as critics seek structural reforms that would alter who has access, who profits, and how labor is valued.

The other options miss this critical stance. Maintaining the status quo aligns more with views that see social order as stable or beneficial, while focusing on cultural production or on how identities relate to sport centers on meanings, experiences, or representations rather than a direct call to oppose existing social arrangements.