The emergence of new mountain biking media practices: toward a culture of inclusive mountain biking
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Mountain biking has grown rapidly in the past thirty years, yet only 20% of participants in the UK are women. Prior research on media representations in action sports identifies its role in reproducing masculine sporting cultures. Focus on mountain biking is limited, and has failed to give voice to women’s experiences with the sport’s media, nor explore the entanglement between sport and media practices. This study takes a practice theory approach. We theorize women mountain biker’s media practices, bringing these in dialogue with a content analysis of two online mountain biking media sites. We find the media continues to anchor male authority and reinforce hypermasculinity, falling short of its transformative potential. Women disengage and can feel disconnected from mountain biking, yet al.so reject and curate an alternative culture through online media practices which opens up spaces for new schemas of meaning and practice performances to emerge.
Source: Sport in Society
Authors: Fiona Spotswood, Martin Hurcombe, Maria Moxey
Institution: University of Bristol
Language: English
Topic: Sports, Gender, and Society
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funder: British Academy
OpenAlex ID: W4404143127