Women, Sport and Physical Activity
About the Book Series
The Women, Sport and Physical Activity series showcases work by leading international researchers and emerging scholars that offers new perspectives on the involvement of women in sport and physical activity. The series is interdisciplinary in scope, drawing on sociology, cultural studies, history, politics, gender studies, leisure studies, psychology, exercise science and coaching studies, and consists of two main strands: thematic volumes addressing key global issues in the study of women, sport and physical activity; and sport-specific volumes, each of which offers an overview of women’s participation and leadership in a particular sport.
The International Working Group on Women and Sport 1994-2024: The Challenge of Change
1st Edition
By Elizabeth C.J. Pike
August 29, 2025
This book comprehensively evaluates the role of the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG) – the world’s largest network dedicated to advancing gender equity and equality in sport, physical education, and physical activity – in influencing global and domestic policy and practice. The ...
Critical Perspectives on the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Events, Issues, and Controversies
1st Edition
Edited
By Adam Beissel, Julie E. Brice, Verity Postlethwaite, Andrew Grainger
June 30, 2025
This book offers an in- depth examination of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup (2023 FWWC) hosted in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. The 2023 FWWC was a landmark event in the history of women’s sport, in terms of audience, revenue, spectacle, and global reach, and has assumed wider significance ...
Women in a Digitized Sports Culture: Nordic Perspectives
1st Edition
Edited
By Anne Tjønndal, Riikka Turtiainen, Kirsten Frandsen, Egil Trasti Rogstad
June 30, 2025
This book provides important new insights into the interplay between gender, technology, sport, and media in the Nordic context, offering a deeper understanding of how digitalization affects sports practices, values, and structures. Bringing together leading experts and a mix of young and senior ...
Women in Snowboarding
1st Edition
By Mari Kristin Sisjord
November 29, 2024
This is the first book to examine the role of women in the origins, development and contemporary landscape of snowboarding. Focusing on organised and professional snowboarding, it explores the significance of women as participants, coaches, leaders, and high-profile sport stars. The book ...
The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup: Politics, Representation, and Management
1st Edition
Edited
By Adam Beissel, Verity Postlethwaite, Andrew Grainger, Julie E. Brice
November 28, 2024
This book offers a critical examination of the 2023 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women’s World Cup, being held in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Drawing on perspectives from sociology, history, political science, and management, it sheds new light on the development...
Women's Football in Africa
1st Edition
By Chuka Onwumechili
July 09, 2024
This is the first book to take an in-depth look at women’s football in Africa. Exploring the history, contemporary landscape, and future development of the women’s game on the African continent, this book offers an important new perspective on the rise of women’s sport more broadly. This book...
Gender-Based Violence in Children’s Sport
1st Edition
By Gretchen Kerr
May 27, 2024
This book addresses the major forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in children’s sport, including sexual, physical, and psychological violence and neglect. It reviews the historical, sociocultural, and political influences on violence towards children, and sets out future agendas for research and ...
Improving Gender Equity in Sports Coaching
1st Edition
Edited
By Leanne Norman
September 25, 2023
The sport coaching profession has historically been and continues to be a White male-dominated occupation and this remains a global issue. This imbalance persists despite an improvement in wider social attitudes and legislation towards equality and diversity within many societies, and despite the ...
Women in Judo
1st Edition
Edited
By Mike Callan
May 31, 2023
This is the first book to explore women’s judo in all aspects, from the history and governance of the sport to cutting-edge sport science perspectives. The book examines the story of judo for women and how the history of the sport has paralleled the cultural and social challenges faced by ...
Women in Rugby
1st Edition
Edited
By Helene Joncheray
January 09, 2023
This is the first book to introduce key themes in the study of women’s rugby from multi-disciplinary perspectives, including history, sociology, gender studies, sport development and sport science. Featuring contributions from leading researchers and former international players from across Canada,...
Gender Equality and the Olympic Programme
1st Edition
By Michele K. Donnelly
December 22, 2022
This innovative study examines the Olympic programme from a critical feminist perspective, to shed new light on the issues of gender and inclusion at the Olympic Games and in the Olympic Movement. Incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data, the book identifies and analyzes the ...