Educación física y entorno social. Influencias y repercusiones para propuestas curriculares y educativas

The paper is based on the notion that body representations are social constructions. In this sense, it also analyses the diversity of corporal activities in social and cultural settings, their essential features and functionality, the context in which they develop, the behavioural cues that accompany different activities, the institutions that organise, regulate and/or support them, and the underlying ideologies, values and beliefs on which they are sustained. These analyses constitute the social and anthropological bases of the educational curriculum. Through them it is possible to consider a Physical Education programme that promotes the healthy and overall development of students, and avoids reproducing practices based on non-educational values. Finally, the paper reflects on the aims and key contents of PE, and puts forth the bases for curricular proposals in this subject matter.