{"id":3170,"date":"2025-03-21T17:01:23","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T17:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/?p=3170"},"modified":"2025-03-14T17:52:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T17:52:11","slug":"womens-sport-insights-from-a-researchers-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/?p=3170","title":{"rendered":"Women\u2019s Sport: Insights from a Researcher\u2019s Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dr Helen Owton and Lorna Stevens<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Have you ever witnessed the electrifying rush of motorcycle racing and then realised you\u2019re watching women? The roar of the engines, the speed, the exceptional skill, the intense focus: it\u2019s more than just a race for many women, it can be a fierce battle for empowerment and mastery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Find out more about The Open University’s\u00a0Sport and Fitness courses and qualifications<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

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But what drives these women to race motorcycles at the highest levels where the stakes are so high? And what inspires others to take it even further, diving into research with a PhD to uncover the untold stories of women in motorcycling?\u00a0Lorna Stevens<\/a>\u00a0talks about her own experiences of competitive motorcycling and her motivations to pursue a PhD in this field.<\/p>\n

Getting into competitive motorcycle racing<\/h2>\n

Women can get into\u00a0motorcycling<\/a>\u00a0through the influence of fathers, brothers or partners who introduce them to the thrill of the sport. Others can be drawn to the freedom and independence it provides, especially in areas with limited public transportation. Media representations and the influence of supportive communities, such as women\u2019s motorcycle clubs, also play key roles in inspiring women to pursue motorcycling. These connections can spark a passion, igniting a desire to push boundaries. Listen to\u00a0Lorna\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0background and how she got into competitive motorcycling.<\/p>\n

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Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n

Why ride?<\/h2>\n

Women riding\u00a0motorcycles<\/a>\u00a0often experience a powerful mix of\u00a0empowerment<\/a>, exhilaration, and intense focus. The sense of mastery and independence that comes from controlling a powerful machine in a traditionally male-dominated sport provides a strong feeling of personal achievement. The adrenaline rush of high-speed racing can be both thrilling and addictive, fuelling their passion for the\u00a0sport<\/a>. Additionally, women describe entering a state of deep concentration, where they are fully immersed in the experience, responding instinctively to every turn and\u00a0vibration<\/a>. Listen to Lorna describe how she enters \u2018a bubble\u2019, commonly referred to as \u2018the zone\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n

Sudden moments<\/h2>\n

Women riding motorcycles describe sudden, memorable moments that are intense, life-changing, and emotionally significant (Owton<\/a>, 2022a). These moments can range from unexpected challenges, like a dramatic crash or near-miss, to profound experiences of personal growth or realisation, such as a shift in focus or mindset during a race (Owton,\u00a02021<\/a>,\u00a02022a<\/a>,\u00a02022b<\/a>). Some women reflect on feeling moments of clarity or\u00a0vulnerability<\/a>, such as when they realise the risks involved or when their priorities shifted due to life\u00a0events<\/a>. Listen to Lorna describe some of her sudden moments which include a major crash and getting back on the bike after having had a baby.<\/p>\n

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Why do a PhD on women\u2019s motorcycling?<\/h2>\n

Women can be driven to pursue a PhD in fields like competitive motorcycling by a deep personal passion for the subject and a desire to contribute to underexplored areas of research. Many are motivated by a strong interest in addressing gender\u00a0disparities<\/a>\u00a0within the sport or by the desire to further understand and document the unique experiences of women in motorcycling. Personal experiences, such as overcoming challenges in the sport, may also inspire women to delve into academic research to better understand the barriers and opportunities that women face. For some, as is the case with Lorna, the pursuit of a PhD represents the culmination of long-held academic aspirations, while for others, it becomes a way to blend personal passion with scholarly inquiry to make a lasting impact on the\u00a0field<\/a>. There are many\u00a0positives<\/a>\u00a0of sportspeople completing a PhD in sport. Listen to Lorna\u2019s motives of pursuing a PhD and what she hopes to find out.<\/p>\n

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Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n

For many women who engage in motorcycling and competitive motorcycling, the appeal appears to lie in the adventure, thrill, and personal challenge, as well as the opportunity to develop new skills. The thrilling sight of women racing motorcycles isn\u2019t just about speed – for those who dive into the world of competitive motorcycling or pursue a PhD in this field, it\u2019s about more than just a personal challenge; it\u2019s about carving out space, overcoming barriers, and rewriting the\u00a0rules<\/a>. Women are not only changing the landscape of women\u2019s sports, they\u2019re creating a legacy that will inspire generations to come.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re interested in completing a PhD in women\u2019s sporting experiences, then explore the opportunities\u00a0online<\/a>\u00a0at the OU or get in touch with\u00a0Dr Helen Owton<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Originally published on OpenLearn<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Dr Helen Owton and Lorna Stevens Have you ever witnessed the electrifying rush of motorcycle racing and then realised you\u2019re watching women? The roar of the engines, the speed, the exceptional skill, the intense focus: it\u2019s more than just a race for many women, it can be a fierce battle for empowerment and mastery. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,31,29,3,159,6,8],"tags":[190,191,168,187],"class_list":["post-3170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-equality","category-gender","category-helen-owton","category-psychology","category-resilience","category-sociology","category-sport-psychology","tag-competitive-motorcycling","tag-lorna-stevens","tag-motorcycling","tag-women-in-sport"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3170"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3180,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3170\/revisions\/3180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}