FIAS (Fostering Inclusive Action Sport) is a research-engagement-impact project based at the University of Bristol. The project sets out to understand and address gender inequality in mountain biking, which is stubborn and pervasive. Our starting point is that action sports like mountain biking should be more open to marginalised genders and groups underrepresented in traditional, competitive sports. These sports are opportunities for self-expression and for connection more than competition. Yet, action sports are pretty much all male-dominated and have become sites for the reproduction of hegemonic masculinity. Our research set out to understand why, and to mobilise collective, collaborative efforts to address gender inequality.
Our research has mainly focused on three areas: the experiences of women navigating mountain bike culture, including participation but also leadership; the way women engage with the ‘cultural representation’ of mountain biking (its media); and the gendered institutional dynamics governing the production of marketing and media. We have mapped out an ecosystem of practices that make up mountain bike ‘culture’, and developed a Framework that identifies mechanisms for change that will mobilise progress. No one organisation or person has responsibility – we have to work together.
We also developed a community building toolkit, because we recognise the importance of women only communities for forging out space for women to find, and thrive in, mountain biking. Our toolkit foregrounds mechanisms for women to move from rider to leader and to integrate in (and transform!) mountain biking more broadly.
The FIAS team works with a range of stakeholders in mountain biking to embed the FIAS Framework and drive strategic activities to progress gender justice. These include national organisations like Beicio Cymru, British Cycling, Forestry England and IMBA but also grassroots organisations and industry. Our work continues, but this film gives a snippet of some of the work we have done to date. It introduces our incredible FIAS steering group who helped guide the first few years of FIAS, and showcases our FIAS launch, which was in Bristol back in sunny October. Enjoy the film, and do get in touch if you have any questions or suggestions for collaboration. Fiona.spotswood@bristol.ac.uk.