My thesis comes at a time when both academic and media interests are once again concerned about the way in which adolescent girls are prevented from participating in sports and physical education (PE). Over the past 35 years, research has been conducted that has highlighted the barriers that girls face, including gendered sports, lack of choice and body image issues. Material barriers such as the PE kit have been researched over the years; however, this has been part of a whole study and not an independent topic. Within my study, I explore the experiences of adolescent girls in PE through the lens of affect theory and new materialism. The decline in girls' participation in PE is a significant challenge, and this study aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of the material factors that contribute to girls' disengagement and disaffection in PE. The thesis is organised into eight chapters, each exploring a different aspect of girls' experiences in PE. The chapters cover the historical and cultural context of girls' engagement in physical education, the impact of gender norms and stereotypes on girls' experiences, and how affective experiences are shaped through collaborative processes. The thesis also includes a co-creative virtual reality methodology that involves girls in the research process and explores the ways in which affective experiences are shaped through feedback loops. Key findings of this study are that girls use a multitude of material objects to micro-resist PE policies and dominant discourses on risk and sexualisation by pushing back on rules around kits. Material objects, including music, mobile phones, and equipment used in ways other than intended, help them find joy and pleasure in PE. This study calls for sensory pedagogies that embrace PE's material and sensory elements, which value movement in new and disruptive ways. Overall, this thesis contributes to the ongoing conversation about the importance of girls' physical education and the need for further innovative research in this field.
Designing Activity: Rethinking Girls 'Body' Experience within Physical Education through Creative Design
Jeffery, Z. (Author). 26 Mar 2025
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › PhD