Socialcultural Studies
What is Sociocultural?
The sociocultural area includes a diverse group of researchers who study sociological concepts across a range of human movement contexts, including sport, physical activity, dance and recreation.Focus of Research
Dr. Judy Davidson
Dr. Davidson's research interests include feminist and queer approaches to sport and leisure phenomena. She has published on homonationalism and the international lesbigay sport movement.
Dr. Lindsay Eales
Dr. Eales uses research-creation methodologies to study disability-centred dance, Mad arts and culture, and intersectional anti-oppressive trauma-informed movement practices.
Research project website: Just Movements Lab (co-directed with Dr. Danielle Peers)
Dr. Josephine Godwyll
Dr. Godwyll's work focuses on understanding social and cultural dimensions of perceived access to recreational spaces and the linkages to well-being and environmental justice.
Dr. Pirkko Markula
Dr. Markula's research interests include: physical-cultural studies of dance; sociocultural study of the fitness industry and the fit feminine body; sociocultural study of sport; and ethnography, autoethnography, performance ethnography.
Research project website: Body, Movement and Culture Research Group
Dr. Lisa McDermott
Dr. McDermott's research interests focus on critically examining both discursive constructions and embodied experiences of women and children's physical activity, health and leisure practices.
Dr. Danielle Peers
Dr. Peers' work bridges three fields: adapted physical activity, socio-cultural sport and movement studies, and critical disability studies.
Research project website: Just Movements Lab (co-directed with Dr. Lindsay Eales)
Dr. PearlAnn Reichwein
Dr. Reichwein's research program highlights Canada's environmental and social history, particularly in western Canada and mountain regions. Understanding the history of people, parks and politics is the purpose of this research.
Dr. Zac Robinson
Dr. Robinson's research interests focus on the histories and literatures of mountain exploration and sport, with a specific interest in mountaineering, travel writing, and postcolonial theory.
Dr. Jay Scherer
One of Dr. Scherer's current research projects is focused on community-based participatory action research on the impacts of a new, 'world-class' arena and downtown entertainment district in Edmonton.