Inclusivity in Sport is a research strand of the Sport and Exercise Research Centre.

We examine national and international relationships between students, athletes and various levels of organised, competitive sports and physical education.

Using a range of qualitative and quantitative measures, ongoing research activities include:

• The experiences of North American LGBT athletes in high school and collegiate sports
• The experiences of British athletes in school-based and recreation-based sports
• Examination of social media campaigns related to LGBT athletes in professional sport
• Evaluating school-based physical activity initiatives, physical education, and teacher training

Strand leader

Professor Eric Anderson

Academic researchers

• Dr John Batten
• Dr Hazel Brown

Impact

Extensive media activity has been undertaken to disseminate research findings regarding LGBT athlete experiences, e.g. this press release about the shift towards a more inclusive sporting community.

Key publications

Magrath, R., Batten, J., Anderson, E., & White, A.J. (2021). Five-year cohort study of White-British male student-athletes’ attitudes toward gay men. Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education.

McVeagh, H., Smith, M. J., & Randall, V. (2020). “It’s like it doesn’t really matter”: Are teachers accountable and equipped for teaching primary physical education. Education.

Muir, K., Anderson, E., Parry, K.D., & Letts, D. (2021). The changing nature of gay rugby clubs in the United Kingdom. Sociology of Sport Journal.

Parry, K.D., Storr, R., Kavanagh, E.J., & Anderson, E. (2021). Conceptualising organisational cultural lag: marriage equality and Australian sport. Journal of Sociology.

Postgraduate research

PhD opportunity

Evaluating the experiences of LGBT athletes about being open about their sexuality.

Current research students

• David Letts: An investigation of the organisational culture and existent masculinities within the British horseracing industry and potential implications for diversity practice and policy
• Maria Moxey: Is University sport more than a midweek quest for excitement? A figurational sociological exploration of I/we identities and power relations 'at play' in university representative sport
• Kerry Wardell: Analysing health, wellbeing, and physical activity policy
• Campbell Williams: The impact of significant infrastructure development upon the de masculinisation of a traditional sports club

Image top by Ashima Pargal on Unsplash