Associate Professor (Dr) | Cukurova University, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Sport Management Department | Turkey
Based on the provided information, İrem Kavasoğlu appears to be a strong candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award. Here’s a breakdown of her strengths, areas for improvement, and a conclusion:
Strengths for the Award
- Specialized Knowledge and Expertise: İrem Kavasoğlu’s research focuses on critical and under-explored areas in sports, including gender equality, homophobia, body politics, and violence in sports environments. Her expertise in these areas, particularly in relation to LGBTQ+ issues and women’s sports, positions her as a leading scholar in these fields.
- Impactful Research Contributions: Her recent publications, such as those on the construction of compulsory heterosexuality in women’s football and the experiences of Turkish bikini fitness athletes on Instagram, highlight significant contributions to understanding gender and sexuality in sports. These studies not only contribute to academic discourse but also have practical implications for policy and practice in sports.
- Recognition and Awards: The Best Research Paper Award for her work on gendered body politics in bikini fitness at an international congress underscores her research’s quality and relevance. Such accolades reflect her standing in the research community and the impact of her work.
- Active Engagement in Advocacy: Kavasoğlu’s involvement with the Turkish Sports and Physical Activity Association for Women and the Muamma Football Team demonstrates her commitment to applying her research insights to real-world issues, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, and promoting inclusivity in sports.
- Diverse Research Projects: Her involvement in various projects, including those focusing on harassment and abuse in sports and digital violence against female athletes, showcases her breadth of research interests and her ability to address multiple facets of sports-related issues.
Areas for Improvement
- Broader Impact and Visibility: While Kavasoğlu has made significant contributions in her specific research areas, increasing the broader impact and visibility of her research could enhance her candidacy further. This could involve greater dissemination of findings through popular media, policy briefs, or public talks.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Expanding her research to incorporate interdisciplinary approaches could provide new perspectives and enhance the robustness of her findings. Collaborations with researchers from fields such as sociology, psychology, and public health could enrich her studies.
- Longitudinal Studies: Conducting longitudinal studies to track changes over time in areas such as gender dynamics in sports and the evolution of digital violence could provide deeper insights and strengthen her research contributions.
Conclusion
İrem Kavasoğlu is a highly suitable candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award due to her significant contributions to understanding complex issues in sports related to gender, sexuality, and violence. Her research not only advances academic knowledge but also has practical implications for improving inclusivity and safety in sports environments. By addressing the areas for improvement, particularly in enhancing the broader impact of her work and pursuing interdisciplinary collaborations, she could further solidify her position as a leading researcher in her field.
Short Biography 📝
İrem Kavasoğlu is an Associate Professor at Cukurova University’s Faculty of Sport Sciences, specializing in Sport Management. Her research addresses critical issues such as gender equality, homophobia, and violence in sports. She holds a doctorate from Gazi University, where she studied favoritism in men’s football. Her work also explores women’s sports history, body politics, and the impact of social media on athletes.
Profile
SCOPUS
Education 🎓
- Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, 2009, Gazi University
- Master’s Degree in Sport Management, 2011, Gazi University
- Doctorate in Sport Management, 2017, Gazi University
Experience 💼
İrem Kavasoğlu is a board member of the Turkish Sports and Physical Activity Association for Women and a member of the Muamma Football Team, which combats heterosexism and homophobia in football. Her professional experience includes leading research projects on harassment and abuse in sports and the digital violence faced by female athletes.
Research Interests 🔬
İrem’s research interests include gender equality in sports, homophobia, violence and harassment in sports environments, inclusive sports, and the historical analysis of women’s sports. Her studies often focus on the intersection of gender, sexuality, and sports culture, with a particular emphasis on LGBTQ+ issues and body politics.
Awards 🏆
- Best Research Paper Award in the Psychosocial Fields at the 16th International Congress of Sport Sciences, 2018, for her publication on gendered bodies in Turkish bikini fitness athletes.
Publications 📚
The construction of compulsory heterosexuality by referees in women’s football in Turkey, Journal of Gender Studies, 2021.
Gendered body of Turkish bikini fitness athletes on Instagram, Communication & Sport, 2022.
Gay men and masculinity in a homohysteric Turkish body building culture, Journal of Gender Studies, 2021.
Women athletes’ experiences of empowerment and oppression through Bikini Fitness, Journal of Sport Sciences Research, 2019.
“Your hair or the team!” Body politics and possibilities of resistance in women’s football in Turkey, Fe Journal, 2022.
Turkey’s first female auto racing champion: Samiye Cahit Morkaya, The International Journal of the History of Sport, 2022.
A space of one’s own? The tensions of being visible on Instagram for Turkish female athletes, Communication & Sport, 2024.
Following western conceptions of masculinity: Homohysteria and transgressive bodies in a masculine Turkish environment, Psychology & Sexuality, 2024.