Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
I am a Professor of Sociology and Deputy Dean for PG Student Experience and Research Environment in the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Roehampton, with strategic and operational oversight of social sciences (criminology, sociology, international relations), history and politics. Alongside this I have strategic responsibilities for PG Student Experience and research culture in the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Prior to joining Roehampton, I was Head of Social Sciences and Nursing, and Head of Social Sciences, Education and Psychology at Solent University and Faculty Research Lead.
My research focuses on understanding social inequalities in sport and leisure, providing a sociological theoretical analysis of inequality and power relations. Drawing on qualitative data from women and girls involved in sport, I have published articles in several international journals on women's cricket, martial arts, leadership and sport. I am the author of a monograph Women's Cricket and Global Processes, the first academic text to provide a sociological global analysis/explanation of the emergence and development of women's cricket. I have co-authored texts, Gender Equity in UK Sport Leadership and Governance and Figurational Research in Sport, Leisure and Health. This body of research within sociology provides an academic understanding of gender and power in sport participation to leadership.
I am currently (2023) involved in two collaborative projects which include understanding female students' experiences of sexual harm in Higher Education contexts, and the use of Bystander Interventions to address cultural awareness and ways to address gender regimes in Higher Education cultures. The second project is understanding pre-school commerical enrichment activities and considering how the development of these activities reflects forms in intensive parenting and may contribute to long-term gaps in participation around socio-economic status, gender and opportunity.
Other research-related activity includes PhD supervision, and I am one of the co-founders of the critical pedagogies in sport network and I am a member of the Cricket Research Network which formed in response to the ICEC report in equity in cricket.
I commit to several academic citizenship activities, peer reviewing for sociology and sport journals, and I sit on the advisory editorial board for Leisure Studies.
Education/Academic qualification
Sociology, PhD, Women, Cricket and Gender Relations, Brunel University,London,United Kingdom
31 Oct 2003 → 5 May 2007
Award Date: 1 Jul 2007
Sociology of Sport, MA, A Sociological Analysis of Women's Cricket, University of Leicester
1 Sept 2001 → 1 Sept 2002
Award Date: 1 Sept 2002
Sport and English , BA (Hons), Media Representations of Women at Sydney Olympics, Liverpool Hope University
1 Oct 1998 → 1 Jul 2001
Award Date: 1 Jul 2001
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 3 Finished
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Evaluation of Violence Against Women and Girls Peer Project
Velija, P. (PI)
22/02/23 → 31/07/23
Project: Consultancy
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“That's where you start to think like, does anyone actually listen to or watch women's sport?” Gender Regimes and Students Experiences on Higher Education Sport Courses
Velija, P. & Phipps, C., 16 May 2022, In: International Review for the Sociology of Sport.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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‘Do full-grown men really play netball?’ Stigma and men’s experiences of playing for an elite London netball team
White, N., Velija, P. & McDonough, B., 8 Sept 2022, In: Sport in Society. 0, 0, p. 1-15 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Gender Equity in UK Sport Leadership and Governance
Velija, P. & Piggott, L., 27 Jan 2022, Emerald Group Publishing. (Emerald Studies in Sport and Gender)Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
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Women's Cricket and Global Processes
Velija, P., 2015Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
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Gender Knowledge and Gender Relations on Higher Education Sport and PE Courses
Velija, P., 1 Sept 2024, Questioning Gender Politics: Contextualising Educational Disparities in Uncertain Times. Bustillos Morales, J. (ed.). Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group, p. 88 103 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Activities
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Gender Equity in Sport
Velija, P. (Advisor)
31 Jan 2028 → …Activity: Public engagement and outreach › Media Article or Participation
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That's where you start to think like, does anyone actually listen to or watch women's sport?
Velija, P. (Speaker) & Phipps, C. (Speaker)
22 Feb 2023Activity: Talk or presentation for an academic audience › Invited talk for an academic audience
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International Review for the Sociology of Sport (Journal)
Velija, P. (Peer reviewer)
1 Jan 2020 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Publication peer-review
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Leisure Studies (Journal)
Velija, P. (Peer reviewer)
31 May 2001 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial Activity
Press/Media
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Report highlights steps to tackle violence against women in education
30/08/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Men’s Cricket World Cup: the story of the Afghanistan team and why it’s such a crowd pleaser
11/06/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media