IWSS 2023
International Women In Sport Symposium 2023
The International Women in Sport Symposium was held on the 17th and 18th August 2023 in Sydney, Australia, at Western Sydney University Parramatta City Campus. It was an inaugural event aimed to bring together leading experts and practitioners from around the world to discuss the latest research and best practices in advancing gender equality and promoting the participation of women in sport.
The symposium was strategically scheduled to take place during the week leading up to the final match of the Women's World Cup, providing an opportunity for international scholars visiting the city to share their research within the international forum. It aimed to provide a platform for the latest research and best practices in advancing gender equality and promoting the participation of women in sport.
The symposium featured a keynote presentation from Professor Jean Williams, panel discussions, and interactive sessions on a wide range of topics, including the role of sport in empowering women and girls, the impact of media representation on women's sport, and the challenges and opportunities for women in leadership positions in sport.
In addition to the presentations and panel discussions, a formal dinner was included as part of the conference fee. The dinner was held at the world-class Commonwealth Bank Stadium, providing participants with an opportunity to network in an iconic and prestigious setting. The dinner allowed attendees to engage with fellow participants and speakers in a relaxed and informal setting, fostering connections and collaborations that could continue long after the symposium ended.
The symposium provided a valuable platform for exchanging ideas and fostering collaboration among researchers, educators, and practitioners from various countries and disciplines. Overall, the event played a crucial role in promoting gender equality and the inclusion of women in the sport industry.
Jump to: Program and Abstracts | Keynote and Guest Speakers | Corporate Sponsors
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Programs and Abstracts
We were thrilled to unveil the book of abstracts for the highly anticipated International Women in Sport Symposium. These abstracts represented the culmination of rigorous research conducted by esteemed scholars, all of whom underwent anonymous peer review to ensure the highest standards of academic excellence.
The abstracts featured in this book showcase the exceptional work and ground-breaking insights that these scholars had contributed to the field of women in sport. Their innovative research and thought-provoking ideas promised to enrich the symposium and stimulate meaningful discussions.
The symposium served as an arena for knowledge exchange, fostering connections among researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts dedicated to advancing the role of women in sports.
With great enthusiasm, we invited attendees to explore the diverse range of abstracts compiled in this book, which represented the cutting-edge research that would be featured at the symposium. We were confident that the collective expertise and unique perspectives shared within those pages contributed to a truly enriching and enlightening event.
We eagerly awaited the presence of attendees at the International Women in Sport Symposium in Parramatta, where we celebrated the exceptional work of these scholars and collectively strived towards a more inclusive and equitable future for women in sports. It was an inaugural event that marked a significant milestone in advancing gender equality in the sports industry.
Click here to view / download the Abstracts (opens in a new window) ( PDF, 1241.7 KB )
Click here to view / download the Program (opens in a new window) ( PDF, 1006.13 KB )
Presenters
| Janet Beverley More than a game: Australian women’s hockey – feminism and practical feminism | 
| Camilla Brockett Promoting healthy and active living: pilot study to better engage women from CALD backgrounds in a community health-based program in Melbourne’s West |
| Lisa Brown The contribution of school sport to the development of women leaders | 
| Donna Denyer One day better: Collective team identity bolstering and temporal identity work in response to threat |
| Kirby Fenwick “The dressing room doors are still locked”: exploring intergenerational perspectives of women in sports journalism in Australia | 
| Georgina Hibberd Never Surrender: women playing Australian football against the |
| Sarah Karlik Lived experiences of migrant women football players in Australia |  | Alana Leabeater The field includes the office: The six pillars of women in sport |
| Alyssa Longmuir The growth of women's sports analytics and statistics: Impacting gender equity and social change | 
| Edward Mariyani-Squire The underrepresentation of women's sport in sports economics literature |
| Caitlin McGrane Gendered cyberhate in Australian women’s sport: Effects and impacts | 
| Chelsea Oester The impact of the menstrual cycle on athletes’ perceived performance: A narrative review and outlook |
| Aurélie Pankowiak Gendered experiences of interpersonal violence and disclosure in Australia community sport | 
| Kate Perry Professional development for women coaches: A case study of a women’s only performance pathway coaching course |
| Jess Richards Tackling tradition: Investigating the evolution of women's rugby | 
| Bess Schnioffsky Obstruction: The archetypal Australian netballer as a barrier to social change |
| Ryan Storr Developing elite trans sport policy: gender inclusive sport and how to get there | 
| Kasey Symons It doesn't happen by magic: creatively exploring the process of changemaking in sport by capturing the magic in the voice of the change makers. |
| Indigo Willing Shredding conventions: Women and non-binary skateboarders | 
| Dana Young Social capital development for migrant background women and girls through community sport: extending the discourse with an applied intersectional lens. |
Jump to: Keynote and Guest Speakers | Corporate Sponsors
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Keynote and Guest Speakers
 | Professor Jean Williams We are extremely privileged to have Jean Williams as our keynote speaker and expert commentator for the Women's World Cup in Australia. With her vast knowledge and experience in women's football, Jean is recognized as the foremost global scholar in this field. In addition to her academic work, she also consults with various museums, arts, and heritage organizations, including the Silverstone motor racing circuit and Notts County Football Club Football in the Community. Jean has authored numerous articles on sports and society, and her four books, including A Game for Rough Girls (2003), A Beautiful Game: International Perspectives on Women's Football (2008), Globalising Women's Football: Europe, Migration and Professionalization (2013), and A Contemporary History of Women's Sport, Part One: Sporting Women, 1850-1960 (2014), are considered seminal works in the field. It is an honour to have her expertise and insights on display as our official keynote at this important event. |
Keynote title: A Game For Rough Girls Twenty Years On: how the landscape of women's sport in academia has changed
When A Game for Rough Girls was published with Routledge in 2003, it was the first monograph length academic volume to look in depth at the history of a women's sports code, in this case soccer. Looking back at what was then hailed a foundational text, the keynote will look at how academic coverage of women's sport has changed in the last twenty years, internationally. The prevailing liberal feminist lense of sport, is that it is making progress. This is the prevailing myth in both the mainstream media and in the narratives of the governing bodies which continue to 'other', undermine and under-resource women's sport. Few who embrace this narrative understand that it problematises women, and especially girls. The keynote will look at more radical critiques of the governance, and embodied experience of sport. Things have not progressed so much as changed, and change can easily be un-done. This is a cause for both sorrow, such as the dreadful events in Afghanistan and the status of female education and work, let alone sport, and for optimism, such as recent equal pay campaigns. Concluding with a fashion and fandom project for which fieldwork will be completed in Australia in the summer of 2023, the keynote will ask are academics being radical enough in their epistemology or do we risk colluding in the liberal feminist myths which maintain world sport as a predominantly male industry?
 | Jacqui McAssey Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK. Jacqui McAssey explores strategies for styling, aspects of contemporary photography within the wider subjects of fashion, fandom and sport. McAssey uses photography and the traditional football fanzine format to give female football supporters visibility and a sense of belonging in football culture through photo-zine, 'GIRLFANS'. Since 2013 she has documented the female fans of the Premier League, English Football League (EFL) and Scottish Premier League, including Liverpool FC, Manchester City FC and Celtic FC. Alongside the zine, McAssey has developed football apparel and ‘femorabilia’ where she reclaims and feminizes phrases, chants and songs from the terraces, including 'The 12th Woman' which was used by female supporters of Bury Football Club after their expulsion from the EFL. Most recently, she was commissioned to make an upcycled 'Lionesses coat' for the The FA's England Women's squad announcement film, ahead of their historic victory in the 2022 EUFA Women's EUROs and is continuing this work in a research project with Prof. Jean Williams and collaborators. She has presented and exhibited the work at the Design Museum, London; The Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester; Walker Art Gallery and Museum of Liverpool; National Football Museum, Manchester; Queen's Gallery, Belfast; OOF Gallery, London and at the inaugural British Textile Biennial, Lancashire, in 2019. The photo-zines are held in the British Library and V&A Art Library, UK. J.McAssey@ljmu.ac.uk Twitter: @jacquimcassey |
Jump to: Program and Abstracts | Corporate Sponsors
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Corporate Sponsors
The sponsorship from the Parramatta City Council and the Parramatta Eels Rugby League Club was instrumental in enabling us to organise and execute a truly remarkable symposium. Their financial support, coupled with their shared vision of promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in sports, allowed us to bring together renowned experts, athletes, and stakeholders from around the world to engage in meaningful discussions, share insights, and inspire change.
 | Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor, Parramatta City Council (opens in a new window) Parramatta City Council's commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women in sports is commendable. Their unwavering support for initiatives that foster inclusivity and opportunities for women in the sporting world has played a crucial role in shaping a more equitable and diverse landscape. Through their sponsorship, Parramatta City Council has demonstrated their dedication to championing the rights and achievements of women in sport, making a positive impact on both the local community and the broader sports industry. |
 | Thank you to our Gold Sponsor, Parramatta Eels (opens in a new window) We would also like to express our deep appreciation to the Parramatta Eels Rugby League Club for their significant sponsorship of the symposium. As a prominent sporting organization, the Eels have recognized the importance of providing equal opportunities for women in all aspects of the game. Their generous support reflects their commitment to empowering female athletes, coaches, administrators, and enthusiasts, and fostering an inclusive sporting culture. |
Jump to: Program and Abstracts | Keynote and Guest Speakers
