Professor Győző Molnár, politics, gender & sport

The Women in Sport & Exercise Academic Network Podcast

Professor Győző Molnár joined the University of Worcester in September 2008. Győző is a critical sociologist with a research focus on identity politics, political populism, gender and empowering marginalised populations. His current research has focused on the migratory and gendered aspects of Fiji rugby, challenging dominant perspectives in Adapted Physical Activity research and unfolding connections between sport and populist politics in Hungary. He is co-editor of The Politics of The Olympics (2010, Routledge), Ethnographies in Sport and Exercise Research (2016, Routledge), Women, Sport and Exercise in the Asia-Pacific Region: Domination-Resistance-Accommodation (2018, Routledge), The Routledge Handbook of Gender Politics in Sport and Physical Activity (2022, Routledge), Encyclopaedia of Politics of Sport(Forthcoming, Elgar) and co-writer of Sport, Exercise and Social Theory: An Introduction (2012, Routledge).

In this episode, we talk about the Handbook of Gender Politics in Sport and Physical Activity, that he edited with Rachael Bullingham, his insights from his research with the Fijian women rugby players, his international collaborations and his future research directions.

Themes/topics

· The Handbook of Gender Politics in Sport and Physical Activity: Overview of content

· Contributing chapters and how connections between politics, gender and sport are made more explicit. How to untangle politics from socio-cultural, environmental influences

· Research with the Fijian women rugby players (finding motivation in a hostile environment): key findings

· The importance of and advice on expressing positionality and negotiating power relationships in ethnographical research

· Collaborating with others: Tips, advice, approach

· Research needs in the area

· Future projects