Deviance can be described as a behaviour diverging from socially accepted values, within wider society deviance is often used to describe behaviour that is negative such as a rejection of cultural goals. Within sport, some behaviours are considered negatively deviant, such as illicit drug use or disregarding the rules of the sport but many would …
Author: warriorsinleotards
A letter to my former self.
It is often easy to look back on a situation and reflect on how you would do things differently if you had the knowledge then that you now possess. We often find ourselves contemplating the ‘ifs and buts’ but usually feel we did the best we could at the time given the situation. When decisions …
Pain and Injury Case Study
The excerpt below is taken from a larger case study which considered the influence socioeconomic status may have on pain and injury discourses. The athlete was a retired elite gymnast who reflected on her experiences with a number of coaches in a variety of settings. We join the conversation at the point she is discussing …
Opinion piece inspired by Tony Minichiello
I have been considering writing an opinion piece for a while now. Much of what I write on the blog is around the subject matter I study grounded in research. Although my field is sociology based I like to gauge how academics from other fields view my thoughts and findings. This has opened up some …
I wish I had known.
Since beginning this blog I have had numerous parents and gymnasts reach out to me as some of my posts have resonated with their own experiences and I have been asked on a few occasions to post a narrative on their behalf. I believe all lived experiences are valuable and add knowledge to the growing …
Does the gymnastics sports subculture create an environment for abuse in elite level sport?
This piece was written in 2016 shortly after the Indianapolis Star broke the Nassar abuse story. The troubling issue of sex abuse within youth sport has been prominent within the media over the past few months. The abuse of youth football players in the UK from grass roots level to professional clubs has emerged with …
What about the parents?
'What about the parents?' I hear this so often when athletes come forward with abuse narratives and this is a valid question. What about the parents? Why have they allowed these abhorrent acts to happen to their children? Are they so invested in an Olympic medal that they ignore the abuse? Why don't they remove …
