Sheree Bekker

My work focuses on feminist perspectives of sport and athleticism. With a passion for challenging conventional norms, my research re-imagines sport as an space for social justice: transcending traditional gender norms and fostering an environment where everyone, regardless of gender, can participate and thrive. I am a co-author of a forthcoming book on the matter (Reaktion Books, Spring 2025) and co-lead of the Feminist Sport Lab.

My expertise extends to examining the regulatory frameworks impacting women and gender expansive people in sport, revealing where inherent harms exist and advocating for change that benefits all. My research underscores the importance of addressing both formal and informal cultural, social, and political barriers to ensure the active participation of women and gender expansive people in sport and beyond. With an unwavering commitment to reshaping the narrative around gender in sport and athleticism, my work contributes to the ongoing transformation of not only the sporting landscape, but wider world as well.

I completed a Prize Research Fellowship in Injury Prevention at the University of Bath from 2018-2020, and I received the 2019 British Journal of Sports Medicine Editor’s Choice Academy Award for my PhD research. In 2023, I was part of a research team that won CIHR-IMHA Inclusive Research Excellence Prizes in two out of five categories – ‘research impact’ and ‘team science’.

My pronouns are she/her