mapping the intersection: global trends in sport, gender, and sociology research

This study aims to fill in gaps in literature by providing an extensive overview of the important topic of sport sociology and gender, which examines the ways in which gender norms, identities, and power dynamics both impact and are impacted by sports. using information from the web of science (wos) encompassing papers from 1995 to 2024, a bibliometric analysis was carried out. using the bibliometrix package in r software, the study used statistical approaches to analyze 168 papers to find trends in authorship, institutional contributions, keyword trends, and citation networks. the analyses showed that although international collaborations are on the rise, researchers such as thorpe and cooky, as well as institutions like loughborough university and the university of copenhagen, dominate the sociology of sport and gender. focusing on women in leadership roles, discrepancies in media coverage, and the experiences of lgbtq+ athletes are important trends that signify a larger social movement for gender parity. the continuous battles against conventional gender standards in sports are highlighted by recurring themes such as participation and hegemonic masculinity. the need for fresh focus on the intersections of race, class, and gender in future research is highlighted by the recent fall in publications from 2022, which raises the possibility of a stagnation in research growth. this study offers a useful resource for academics, decision-makers, and practitioners looking to promote gender equity in sports by highlighting important patterns and potential avenues for further research.