Chenyu Ni - Sports inclusivity and diversity

Her research was focused on ‘online collective identity’, ‘digital communication’, ‘sports inclusivity and diversity’. Let’s see Chenyu’s research.

This study conducted a gender-focused analysis of interactions within a university Chinese wrestling club's WeChat group, reflecting the principles associated with engaging and listening. It critically examines the construction of online collective environments by focusing on a niche, national, male-dominated sport.

Chinese wrestling, also known as Shuai Jiao, is a sport with a 2,000-year history, is deeply rooted in ethnic and cultural traditions and symbolizes strength and prowess in China (Zhao & Li, 2019).

Employing symbolic interactionism (Blumer, 1969) and self-categorization theory (Turner & Reynolds, 1987), the study offers insights into the gendered dimensions of identity formation and group interaction in the digital realm.

The study comprised a detailed 10-month analysis of the team's WeChat group, from which 3,000 chat messages were collected, alongside 10 field observations, and one-on-one interviews with 12 team members. The results offer a unique perspective into how offline communities navigate and transform their collective identities in the online world. The gender-mixed team, comprising a male coach, a majority of male members, and a minority of female members, serves as a distinctive microcosm for examining gendered narratives and their influence on collective identity construction.

This study reveals the nuanced ways in which gender roles are embodied in the mechanisms of identity construction (Ca & Li, 2018). In the team's online
group chats, this traditional strength-based sport remained male-dominated.
Male members often led conversations and initiated discussions, especially on
topics traditionally associated with masculinity, such as fishing, video games,
and cars. Female members were numerically smaller, and their active
contributions to the conversation were less frequent. In addition, the male
coach became the opinion leader in the group chat, shaping the conversations
and atmosphere.

Despite the marginalization of female members in the online group chat, some members actively advocated for gender equality, whereas others frequently chose to subtly avoid controversial gender-related topics to preserve collective
harmony. In addition, the coach played a key role in creating an inclusive
environment and encouraging female participation, such as guiding female
members to engage in discussions and initiating gender-neutral topics. This
dynamic demonstrates the interplay between traditional gender norms and the evolving inclusiveness of sports communities in digital spaces.

Overall, the research sheds light on how gendered communication strategies contribute to enhancing group cohesion and a sense of belonging. It offers valuable insights into the dynamic experiences that weave people together in small groups and enriches the academic understanding of diversity and inclusion within the realm of sports communication.