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This book offers an in-depth sociological examination of the global phenomenon of action sports. It argues that trends in contemporary action sport cultures raise important questions about the ...changing nature of sport in the 21st century. Adopting a global ethnographic approach and engaging multiple theoretical perspectives, it examines how transnational action sport corporations, mega events and media spectacles, the international travel patterns of athletes, tourists and migrants, and the high use of social media among participants, are contributing to the emergence of a transnational imaginary within and across action sport communities. This book contributes to recent debates in the fields of transnationalism, mobilities and migration scholarship, by revealing both the macro structural features of transnationalism and the everyday lived experiences at the local level. Each chapter offers case studies and site-specific vignettes from an array of action sports and around the world. Ultimately, this book illustrates how corporeal, virtual and imagined mobilities and connections across borders are influencing not only how youth are practicing and consuming sport and physical activity, but also how such processes are informing their sense of space, place, identity, politics and belonging.
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This book contributes to recent debates in transnationalism, mobilities and migration studies by offering the first in-depth sociological examination of the global phenomenon of action sports and the transnational networks and connections being established within and across local contexts around the world.
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"Holly Thorpe has produced an outstanding sociological study of action sports within the global context. I particularly enjoyed the book's highly insightful, creative and critical engagement with contemporary theories of transnationalism and mobility to understand the cultural politics and contemporary practices of action sports. This analysis draws on very rich data that has been derived from many years of fieldwork and interviews across the world. The book will be essential reading for all academics, students and wider readers who are interested in sport, migration, transnationalism, and the social and cultural aspects of globalization." - Richard Giulianotti, Loughborough University, UK
'This is an all-action account of the geography and sociology of action sports. It is a really interesting and entertaining read - strongly recommended.' - John Urry, Lancaster Universit, UK
'An invaluable interdisciplinary contribution to the understanding of both action sport cultures and, more generally, the network of flows and mobilities that constitute the transnational condition. Transnational Mobilities is a complex and comprehensive discussion, characterized by a compelling synthesis of theoretical depth and empirical insight.' - David Andrews, University of Maryland, US
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Holly Thorpe is Senior Lecturer at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. She has published widely on the topics of sociology of sport, social theory, physical youth culture, gender, and action sports.
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1. Transnational Mobilities and Action Sport Cultures: Conceptual, Theoretical and Methodological Considerations PART I: TRANSNATIONAL ACTION SPORT CULTURAL NETWORKS 2. Producing Transnational Networks: Action Sport Companies, Media and Events 3. Digital Media and the Transnational Imaginary: Virtual Memorialization of Global Action Sport Stars PART II: ACTION SPORTS MIGRATION AND TRANSNATIONAL MOBILITIES 4. Corporeal Mobilities in Action Sport Cultures: Tourists, Professionals and Seasonal Migrants 5. Pleasure, Play, and Everyday Politics in Transnational Action Sport Destinations 6. Transnational Action Sport Career Migration: Reflections from Home and Away PART III: ACTION SPORTS (IM)MOBILITIES IN DISRUPTED AND CONFLICTED SPACES 7. Action Sports and Natural Disaster Immobilities: Arrhythmic Experiences in Christchurch, New Zealand 8. The Emergence of Action Sports in the Middle East: Imagining New Mobilities with Parkour in Gaza 9. Transnational Connections and Transformation: Action Sport for Development and Peace Building
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New strand to migration literature
Of interest to sports studies scholars
Unresearched group in migration studies
Based on a decade of research by two leading action sports scholars, this book maps the relationship between action sports and the Olympic Movement, from the inclusion of the first action sports to ...those featuring for the first time in the Tokyo Olympic Games and beyond. In an effort to remain relevant to younger audiences, four new action sports, surfing, skateboarding, sport climbing, and BMX freestyle were included in the Tokyo Olympic program. Drawing upon interviews with Olympic insiders, as well as leaders, athletes, and participants in these action sports communities, the book details the impacts on the action sports industry and cultures, and offers national comparisons to show the uneven effects resulting from Olympic inclusion. It reveals the intricate workings of power and politics in contemporary sports organisations, and maps key trends in this changing sporting landscape. Action Sports and the Olympic Games is a fascinating read for anybody studying the Olympics, the sociology of sport, action sports, or sport policy.
Maternal physical activity participation is associated with a range of positive mental and physical health outcomes. While a range of psycho-social and practical barriers to women's participation ...have been identified, little research has examined how these intersect with the physiological barriers posed by birthing injuries and the physical changes wrought by pregnancy and childbirth. In this study we address this gap using data collected through in-depth interviews with 20 women in Aotearoa New Zealand seeking to engage in regular exercise following childbirth. Guided by a socio-material conceptual framework, we examine women's physical activity engagement as bio-social phenomena. We pay particular attention to how women describe and navigate challenges posed by physiological considerations such as pelvic floor dysfunction, fatigue, the energetic demands of breastfeeding, and lingering birthing injuries. We argue these physical barriers are largely glossed over by policies, programmes and existing research that focus on motivating mothers to return to or become physically active. We suggest more sophisticated conceptual approaches are needed that explicitly acknowledge the overlapping biological and social dimensions of maternal physical activity in order to better support women through the complex postpartum period and beyond through enhanced resources, information, and general social awareness.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Media representations and dominant social constructions of the ‘ideal’ physique for young women are often framed through a Westernised lens that focuses on heteronormative, White able-bodied ...aesthetics of beauty and femininity. Until very recently, the imagery available for young women to connect with and aspire to has been highly limited, failing to represent the embodied cultural beliefs that Indigenous and culturally-minoritised young women may have towards the gendered body. In this paper, we draw upon focus groups (wānanga) and digital diaries with young, physically active Māori and Pasifika wāhine (women) in Aotearoa New Zealand, to reveal how they are making meaning out of dominant framings of beauty, and drawing upon cultural knowledge to refuse such portrayals, instead reclaiming power in their own bodies. Working at the intersection of Mana Wahine and Masi methodologies, this article amplifies the voices of young Māori and Pasifika wāhine who actively participate in sport and/or physical activity, embrace and appreciate their strong brown bodies, and are critically reading and rejecting dominant Western framings of beauty and femininity. In so doing, this paper contributes to a growing international dialogue about the need for new culturally-informed understandings of body image by young women from Indigenous and culturally marginalised communities.
In a context where striving for gender equity in relation to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals seems more pressing than ever before, Sport, Gender and Development: Intersections, ...Innovations and Future Trajectories brings together an exploration of sport feminisms to offer new approaches to research on Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) in global and local contexts. Including postcolonial and decolonial feminist lenses by drawing upon fieldwork with organizations and individuals in Afghanistan, Uganda, Nicaragua, and India, Sport, Gender and Development reveals the complexities of development and gender discourses and how they operate on and through researchers, practitioners, and participants' bodies. Delving into a thoughtful engagement with the (dis)connections and comparisons across these diverging contexts, this book offers a critically reflexive account of what is transpiring in the transnational sport, gender and development field, while remaining sensitive to the importance of community context and local iterations. Taking up emerging and contemporary feminist issues in sport related international development, this book advances empirical, conceptual, and theoretical developments in sport, gender and development.
Abstract
Mutations in the phosphatidylinositol glycan biosynthesis class A (PIGA) gene cause a rare, X-linked recessive congenital disorder of glycosylation. Phosphatidylinositol glycan biosynthesis ...class A congenital disorder of glycosylation (PIGA-CDG) is characterized by seizures, intellectual and developmental delay, and congenital malformations. The PIGA gene encodes an enzyme involved in the first step of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor biosynthesis. There are over 100 GPI-anchored proteins that attach to the cell surface and are involved in cell signaling, immunity, and adhesion. Little is known about the pathophysiology of PIGA-CDG. Here, we describe the first Drosophila model of PIGA-CDG and demonstrate that loss of PIG-A function in Drosophila accurately models the human disease. As expected, complete loss of PIG-A function is larval lethal. Heterozygous null animals appear healthy but, when challenged, have a seizure phenotype similar to what is observed in patients. To identify the cell-type specific contributions to disease, we generated neuron- and glia-specific knockdown of PIG-A. Neuron-specific knockdown resulted in reduced lifespan and a number of neurological phenotypes but no seizure phenotype. Glia-knockdown also reduced lifespan and, notably, resulted in a very strong seizure phenotype. RNA sequencing analyses demonstrated that there are fundamentally different molecular processes that are disrupted when PIG-A function is eliminated in different cell types. In particular, loss of PIG-A in neurons resulted in upregulation of glycolysis, but loss of PIG-A in glia resulted in upregulation of protein translation machinery. Here, we demonstrate that Drosophila is a good model of PIGA-CDG and provide new data resources for future study of PIGA-CDG and other GPI anchor disorders.
PIGA-CDG is a rare genetic disorder of glycosylation characterized by seizures, intellectual and developmental delay, and congenital malformations. Here, Thorpe, Owings, Aziz et al. generate and characterize several Drosophila models of PIGA-CDG. These models faithfully recapitulate different patient phenotypes, including movement disorder and seizures, indicating that Drosophila is a good model for PIGA-CDG and potentially other glycosylation disorders.
Low energy availability (LEA) is a complex health condition that most commonly affects female athletes. Research on LEA is weighted to quantitative approaches, and few studies have employed ...qualitative methods to understand the development of LEA. Current research fails to understand the complexity of LEA by largely operating within isolated research paradigms. This paper aims to demonstrate the value of integrating a mixed-methods research approach to understand the influence of sporting cultures on the physiological experiences of female athletes with LEA. The mixed-methods approach implemented the use of physiological (quantitative) and socio-psychological (qualitative) data obtained from elite female athletes in three sports: triathlons and running, (n = 11), rugby sevens (n = 9), and track cycling (n = 10). The physiological data consisted of energy availability, haematological analysis, bone health, and body composition. The socio-psychological data consisted of individual semi-structured interviews with topics covering nutrition, body image, the impact of the sporting environment, and experience with LEA. The interview data were thematically analysed. By bringing qualitative and quantitative data together, this paper illustrates the complex relationship between sporting culture and the physiology of LEA. First, endurance athletes categorised as having an LEA showed a positive correlation between the relative energy intake (EI) and serum ferritin, with the interviews revealing a focus on a low body weight and reducing the EI. Second, the interviews with the rugby players showed a strong but hierarchical team culture, with the experienced players monitoring and controlling the EI of novice players. Third, among the cyclists, the EI was reduced in those categorised as having an LEA, with the interviews revealing a coach–athlete power relationship impacting dietary behaviours. To conclude, this paper demonstrates how mixed methods are important for capturing how different sporting cultures impact athletes’ socio-psychological and physiological experiences of LEA.
Sport and fitness have long been linked with healthy lifestyles, yet most sporting events and consumption practices are highly detrimental to the environment. While academics have examined the ...harmful effects of sporting mega-events and the production and consumption of sport equipment and clothing, there has been less engagement with the “mundane,” everyday activities of consuming, laundering, and recycling of fitness objects. In this paper, we explore the potential in feminist new materialisms for rethinking the complex relationships between sport, fitness, and the environment. In particular, we explain how our engagement with Karen Barad's theory of agential realism led us to rethink women's habitual fitness practices as connected to environmental degradation. Working with Barad's concept of entanglement, we came to notice new human-clothing-environment relationships, focusing on how athleisure clothing itself is an active, vital force that intra-acts with other non-human (and human) matter within the environment. Adopting a diffractive methodology that included reading interviews with women about their activewear practices, our own experiences, new materialist theory, and environmental literature through each other, we focus on two examples that emerged through this process: laundering and disposal practices. Through these examples, we demonstrate the ways in which new materialisms encouraged us to move toward non-anthropocentric understandings of the sport-environment relationship and toward new ethical practices in our everyday fitness lifestyles.
Action sport participants have always been actively involved in the consumption and production of niche cultural media. However, the proliferation of new media technologies is playing an evermore ...important role in the ongoing progression of skills among athletes and committed recreational participants, and building a sense of community among enthusiasts and audiences across local, national, and global contexts. More than repeating previous patterns, such media technologies are contributing to new relationships between corporations, action sporting bodies, and communities. This article sets out a research agenda for understanding new media developments in action sports. In the first part of this article, I detail how new digital media are being used by corporations, athletes, and everyday participants, and in so doing, are transforming the networks and connections within and across action sport communities. In the second, I describe how new media technologies such as GoPros™, camera drones, and GPS tracking devices are changing action sport experiences and the relationship between “human” and “nonhuman” sporting bodies. As well as revealing emerging issues, this article also poses a series of critical questions and challenges to researchers interested in contributing to new understandings of the latest media technologies in action sport cultures.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Researchers across an array of disciplines are focused on measuring the potential of specially designed programs - sport, movement, and/or arts-based - for supporting the recovery of youth in ...contexts of conflict and disaster. Yet, few such projects engage youth directly to capture their experiences of trauma and recovery, and too many continue to assume youth are 'victims' requiring 'our' (adult-designed) versions of support. This paper seeks to move scholarship, policy and practice beyond the 'deficit model' by providing space for local voices and prioritizing the creative grassroots strategies devised by youth to support their own recovery. Drawing upon three case studies and a multi-method approach (interviews with digital ethnography) it reveals the social and cultural benefits of grassroots informal sporting activities, particularly in providing youth with opportunities for valued forms of physical self-expression and escapism, social connectedness, and possibilities to redefine physical and emotional geographies. In so doing, this paper reveals informal sports as critical resources taken up by youth within situations and systems where their specific needs are too often marginalized. It also highlights the opportunities in alternative methodologies - i.e. longitudinal research, sustained digital observations - for building relationships and amplifying the voices of youth in conflict and post-disaster geographies.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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