Evidence Submission: Beyond Participation – Routes into Sport for Girls and Women+: The FIAS Research and Framework

Fiona Spotswood

Evidence Submission: Beyond Participation – Routes into Sport for Girls and Women+: The FIAS Research and Framework

University of Bristol Business School

Research output: Other contribution

Abstract

This submission draws on recent academic research from Project FIAS at the University of Bristol Business School examining gender, media representation, and cultural production in mountain biking. Mountain biking is an excellent case study for exploring women+’s routes into ‘action sports’, i.e. sports that are more informally organised, often done outside in nature, have ‘risky’ and ‘adrenaline’ aspects and have less mainstream media presence. 20% of UK mountain bikers are women+, and this is lower in parts of Europe. Gender inequality is similar in other action sports. There are important benefits of action sports, such as nature connectedness, benefits to mental health and the emphasis on social connection, self-expression and individualised progression.

Original language	English
Type	Written Evidence for UK Parliamentary inquiry
Media of output	Written
Publisher	UK Parliament
Publication status	Published - 3 Jun 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 5 Gender Equality

Research Groups and Themes

MGMT Marketing and Consumption

Keywords

sport
gender inequality
parliamentary inquiry
evidence
FIAS
mountain biking

Handle.net

Persistent link

The FIAS Framework: a practice ecosystems, macro-social marketing approach addressing gender inequality in action sport
Spotswood, F., Hurcombe, M. J. & Moxey, M., 15 Dec 2025, In: Journal of Social Impact in Business Research. 1, 1, p. 3-16 14 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

Open Access

Fostering Inclusive Action Sport in Wales
Spotswood, F. M. (Principal Investigator), Moxey, M. (Co-Investigator) & Hurcombe, M. J. (Co-Investigator)
1/07/24 → 31/07/25
Project: Research

File

Cite this

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title = "Evidence Submission: Beyond Participation – Routes into Sport for Girls and Women+: The FIAS Research and Framework",

abstract = "This submission draws on recent academic research from Project FIAS at the University of Bristol Business School examining gender, media representation, and cultural production in mountain biking. Mountain biking is an excellent case study for exploring women+{\textquoteright}s routes into {\textquoteleft}action sports{\textquoteright}, i.e. sports that are more informally organised, often done outside in nature, have {\textquoteleft}risky{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}adrenaline{\textquoteright} aspects and have less mainstream media presence. 20\% of UK mountain bikers are women+, and this is lower in parts of Europe. Gender inequality is similar in other action sports. There are important benefits of action sports, such as nature connectedness, benefits to mental health and the emphasis on social connection, self-expression and individualised progression.",

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N2 - This submission draws on recent academic research from Project FIAS at the University of Bristol Business School examining gender, media representation, and cultural production in mountain biking. Mountain biking is an excellent case study for exploring women+’s routes into ‘action sports’, i.e. sports that are more informally organised, often done outside in nature, have ‘risky’ and ‘adrenaline’ aspects and have less mainstream media presence. 20% of UK mountain bikers are women+, and this is lower in parts of Europe. Gender inequality is similar in other action sports. There are important benefits of action sports, such as nature connectedness, benefits to mental health and the emphasis on social connection, self-expression and individualised progression.

AB - This submission draws on recent academic research from Project FIAS at the University of Bristol Business School examining gender, media representation, and cultural production in mountain biking. Mountain biking is an excellent case study for exploring women+’s routes into ‘action sports’, i.e. sports that are more informally organised, often done outside in nature, have ‘risky’ and ‘adrenaline’ aspects and have less mainstream media presence. 20% of UK mountain bikers are women+, and this is lower in parts of Europe. Gender inequality is similar in other action sports. There are important benefits of action sports, such as nature connectedness, benefits to mental health and the emphasis on social connection, self-expression and individualised progression.

KW - sport

KW - gender inequality

KW - parliamentary inquiry

KW - evidence

KW - FIAS

KW - mountain biking

M3 - Other contribution

PB - UK Parliament

ER -

Evidence Submission: Beyond Participation – Routes into Sport for Girls and Women+: The FIAS Research and Framework

Abstract

UN SDGs

Research Groups and Themes

Keywords

Handle.net

Fingerprint

Research output

The FIAS Framework: a practice ecosystems, macro-social marketing approach addressing gender inequality in action sport

Projects

Fostering Inclusive Action Sport in Wales

Cite this