Dr Ali Bowes: Professionalisation of women's sport

Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network Podcast

Dr Ali Bowes is a Senior Lecturer in the Sociology of Sport at Nottingham Trent University. Ali primarily researches the sociocultural dimensions in elite women’s sport and is the co-editor of two books: The Professionalisation of Women’s Sport and Women’s Football in a Global, Professional Era. Ali has published 40 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, focusing mainly on qualitative methodologies from feminist perspectives, spanning topics including gender inequality in elite sport, equal pay debates, maternity rights, national identity, women’s sport fandom and media coverage. Ali has also discussed these issues extensively in popular spaces, featuring in a range of national and international media and culminating in being involved in the Netflix Documentary, “Game On: The Unstoppable Rise of Women’s Sport”.

In this podcast:

• Sports researched/known for: Football, golf, rugby and what ‘binds’ these sports, in terms of their research approach
• An overview of the two chapters that were written in the book, Women’s Football: From Science to High Performance, one which was on strategic holistic workforce development and the other which was on eating disorders: Ideas and next steps.
• Two edited books, The Professionalisation of Women’s Sport and Women’s Football in a Global, Professional Era: How these came about and advice/top tips for others on book editing as well as approach to writing in general.
• Other research areas on e.g., motherhood, maternity rights and media coverage, and which most proud of.
• Media work & three Conversation pieces – rationale for doing and advice for others.
• Current research – key findings.
• Future research activities.