Staff profile

Professor Stacey Pope joined Durham University in 2013. She is a sociologist who leads research in the area of women, football and inequalities. She has particular research interests in women football fans. She led the first programme of work examining men’s responses to the growing visibility of women in sport and issues of sexism and misogyny. She also examines changes in media coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and fans of the England and U.S. national teams.

Professor Pope’s work has been supported by a range of funders, including the AHRC, the ESRC and Foundation of Light National Lottery Heritage Fund. She is regularly invited to deliver keynotes and invited talks. She is committed to the public engagement of her work, with her research regularly featured in mainstream news and sports outlets. Her work is showcased in the exhibition Away From Home: The Untold Stories of Women Football Fans.

Professor Pope has provided written and oral evidence to UK Parliament for the Culture, Media and Sport and Women and Equalities Committees. Many of her recommendations were taken forward in the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Safety at Major Sporting Events Report. She is currently working on developing evidence-based solutions to address gendered violence and abuse in men’s football, working with police and major stakeholders in football. She is co-investigator on an ESRC funded project investigating football, intergenerational relations and place-based community in post-industrial English towns, with colleagues from Manchester Metropolitan and Loughborough universities.

Research Interests

Professor Pope’s research interests are focused upon the area of women, football and inequalities. This includes:

·      Women fans of men’s football

·      Women fans of women’s football

·      Men football fans and sexism and misogyny

·      Media coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup

Esteem Indicators

• 2026: Icons of Change International Awards Honoree recognising sustained impact advancing Sustainable Development Goals
• 2025: Nominated for Durham University Global Award for outstanding commitment to international collaboration and strengthening of global ties
• 2024: Contributed to United Nations Expert Consultation on Violence Against Girls and Women in Sport
• 2024: Award for Best Project (Nationally) for Engaging with Schools from the Ogden Trust for the Stargoal project in collaboration with Department of Physics. Led the film ‘Is Football Sexist?’
• 2023: Contributed to Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee ‘Women’s Sport’
• 2023: Award from the Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network for research deemed to have "made a significant contribution to sport and exercise for girls/women and who is an academic who is inspirational in their field"
• 2023: Contributed to Department for Culture, Media and Sport Independent Report ‘Reframing the Opportunity in Women’s Football’
• 2022: Contributed to Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee ‘Safety at Major Sporting Events’
• 2022: Contributed to Women and Equalities Select Committee ‘Sexism and Inequality in Football’
• 2019-2021: Elected Board Member for the European Sociological Association’s Society and Sports Research Network
• 2017-present: Co-editor of Routledge book series Critical Research in Football.
• Grant reviewer for UKRI, European Science Foundation, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, National Science Centre Poland and Royal Society New Zealand.
• Currently serves on the editorial board of 5 journals
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Publication Information

• ResearchGate Papers here
• Scopus Profile here
• Google Scholar Profile here

PhD Supervision

Professor Stacey Pope welcomes expressions of interest from potential PhD students.

Media Interviews

Some examples of previous media work can be accessed here:

• Study reveals misogynistic attitudes towards women’s sport
• Report calls on men’s professional football clubs to tackle sexism
• FIFA World Cup and Media Coverage

Previous podcasts can be accessed here:

• BBC Radio Four Woman’s Hour
• The Telegraph
• Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network Podcast
• Now and Men

Professor Pope welcomes media interviews connected to her areas of research expertise.

Authored book

• The Feminization of Sports Fandom: A Sociological Study
  
  Pope, S. (2017). The Feminization of Sports Fandom: A Sociological Study. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315689852

Book review

• English National Identity and Football Fan Culture, Who Are Ya?
  
  Pope, S. (2017). English National Identity and Football Fan Culture, Who Are Ya? Soccer & Society, 18(1), 154-158. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2016.1223371

Chapter in book

• Feminist Inquiry in Sport and Physical Culture: Tensions Between Feminist Qualitative Research and Doing Public Sociology in a Positivist World
  
  Pope, S. (2025). Feminist Inquiry in Sport and Physical Culture: Tensions Between Feminist Qualitative Research and Doing Public Sociology in a Positivist World. In M. D. Giardina, M. K. Donnelly, & D. J. Waldman (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research in Sport and Physical Culture (pp. 149-165). Sage.
• Women Sports Fans
  
  Jones, K., Pope, S., & Toffoletti, K. (2022). Women Sports Fans. In D. Sarver Coombs & A. C. Osborne (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Sports Fans. Routledge.
• A New Age for Media Coverage of Women's Sport? An Analysis of English Media Coverage of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
  
  Petty, K., & Pope, S. (2022). A New Age for Media Coverage of Women’s Sport? An Analysis of English Media Coverage of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In A. Culvin & A. Bowes (Eds.), Women’s Football in a Global, Professional Era. Professional Era. Emerald Publishing.
• 'Who Could Name an England Women’s Footballer?': Female Fans of Men’s Football and their Views of Women’s Football in England
  
  Pope, S. (2018). ’Who Could Name an England Women’s Footballer?’: Female Fans of Men’s Football and their Views of Women’s Football in England. In G. Pfister & S. Pope (Eds.), Female Football Players and Fans: Intruding into a Man’s World. Palgrave MacMillan.
• A Socio-Historical Account of Female Experiences of Football’s Golden Age in England
  
  Pope, S., & Williams, J. (2018). A Socio-Historical Account of Female Experiences of Football’s Golden Age in England. In G. Pfister & S. Pope (Eds.), Female Football Players and Fans: Intruding into a Man’s World (1st ed., pp. 157-184). Palgrave MacMillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59025-1_8
• Introduction
  
  Pope, S., & Pfister, G. (2018). Introduction. In G. Pfister & S. Pope (Eds.), Female Football Players and Fans: Intruding into a Man’s World (1st ed., pp. 1-15). Palgrave MacMillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59025-1_1
• Female Fans of Men's Football
  
  Pope, S. (2016). Female Fans of Men’s Football. In J. Hughson, K. Moore, R. Spaaij, & J. Maguire (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Football Studies. Routledge.
• Female Football Fans and Gender Performance
  
  Pope, S. (2014). Female Football Fans and Gender Performance. In E. Anderson & J. Hargreaves (Eds.), Routledge handbook of sport, gender and sexuality. (pp. 245-253). Routledge.
• Jenny: Specialist needs for the specialising phase
  
  Harvey, S., Pope, S., Fletcher, I., & Kerner, C. (2014). Jenny: Specialist needs for the specialising phase. In K. Armour (Ed.), Pedagogical Cases in Physical Education and Youth Sport (pp. 144-155). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203795927
• Jenny. 13-year-old female, early maturing and talented, physiology, sociology, psychology, pedagogy.
  
  Harvey, S., Pope, S., Fletcher, I., & Kerner, C. (2014). Jenny. 13-year-old female, early maturing and talented, physiology, sociology, psychology, pedagogy. In K. Armour (Ed.), Pedagogical Cases in Physical Education and Youth Sport. (pp. 144-155). Routledge.
• The Meaning of Sport in the Lives of ‘Hot’ and ‘Cool’ Female Fans of Football and Rugby Union
  
  Pope, S. (2012). The Meaning of Sport in the Lives of ‘Hot’ and ‘Cool’ Female Fans of Football and Rugby Union. In K. Toffoletti & P. Mewett (Eds.), Sports and Its Female Fans. (pp. 135-165). Routledge: London.

Edited book

• Female Football Players and Fans: Intruding into a Man’s World
  
  Pfister, G., & Pope, S. (Eds.). (2018). Female Football Players and Fans: Intruding into a Man’s World (1st ed.). Palgrave MacMillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59025-1

Journal Article

• Women Football Fans in China: A Call to Action for Expanding Global Understandings of Gender, Football and Fandom
  
  Wu, Z., & Pope, S. (2026). Women Football Fans in China: A Call to Action for Expanding Global Understandings of Gender, Football and Fandom. Football Studies. Advance online publication, Article 100022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.footst.2026.100022
• Following, Watching, Attending: Fandom of Women’s Sport in the UK and US
  
  Allison, R., Gemar, A., & Pope, S. (2025). Following, Watching, Attending: Fandom of Women’s Sport in the UK and US. International Review for the Sociology of Sport. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10126902251393582
• Gender Essentialism and U.S. Attitudes Towards the Media Coverage of Women’s Sport
  
  Gemar, A., Allison, R., & Pope, S. (2025). Gender Essentialism and U.S. Attitudes Towards the Media Coverage of Women’s Sport. Communication & Sport, 14(2), 674-696. https://doi.org/10.1177/21674795251327958
• The impact of Fallon Sherrock and the increasing prominence of women within professional darts events: a call for future research
  
  Davis, L., Phipps, C., & Pope, S. (2025). The impact of Fallon Sherrock and the increasing prominence of women within professional darts events: a call for future research. Managing Sport and Leisure, 30(4), 653-668. https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2023.2229328
• Perspectives of disabled adults on healthcare professionals role in promoting physical activity in China A reflexive thematic analysis
  
  Wang, W., Xiang, J., Huo, Y., Alfaifi, H., Pope, S., & Smith, B. (2025). Perspectives of disabled adults on healthcare professionals role in promoting physical activity in China A reflexive thematic analysis. Scientific Reports, 15(1), Article 16040. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97921-4
• Americans’ attitudes towards the U.S. women’s national soccer team
  
  Allison, R., Gemar, A., & Pope, S. (2025). Americans’ attitudes towards the U.S. women’s national soccer team. Soccer and Society, 26(1), 146-159. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2024.2426089
• Intuitive tracking: Blending competing approaches to exercise and eating
  
  Hockin‐Boyers, H., Jamie, K., & Pope, S. (2024). Intuitive tracking: Blending competing approaches to exercise and eating. Sociology of Health & Illness, 46(8), 1828-1848. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13821
• Women’s football fandom and stadium attendance in Iran: a form of everyday resistance?
  
  Phipps, C., Afrouzeh, A., Pope, S., Pourkiani, M., & Boroumand, M. R. (2024). Women’s football fandom and stadium attendance in Iran: a form of everyday resistance? World Leisure Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/16078055.2024.2406487
• The Experiences of Women Leaders in the Higher Education Sport Sector: Examining the Gendered Organization Through Bourdieu’s Model of Field, Capital and Habitus
  
  Naidu-Young, S., May, A., Pope, S., & Gérard, S. (2024). The Experiences of Women Leaders in the Higher Education Sport Sector: Examining the Gendered Organization Through Bourdieu’s Model of Field, Capital and Habitus. Sociology of Sport Journal, 41(3), 255–266. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2023-0094
• 204 Physical activity insecurity in children and young people at risk of marginalisation: navigating an equitable and safe research experience using co-production principles
  
  Dodd-Reynolds, C., Hall, S., Crowder, M., Goodyear, V., Griffin, N., Fairbrother, H., Pope, S., & Scott, S. (2024). 204 Physical activity insecurity in children and young people at risk of marginalisation: navigating an equitable and safe research experience using co-production principles. European Journal of Public Health, 34(Supplement_2), ckae114.097. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckae114.097
• Stability and Change in Sports Fandom Over Time: A Longitudinal Study of U.S. Women's Professional Soccer Fandom
  
  Allison, R., Kossakowski, R., & Pope, S. (2024). Stability and Change in Sports Fandom Over Time: A Longitudinal Study of U.S. Women’s Professional Soccer Fandom. Sociology of Sport Journal, 42(1), 101-111. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2024-0036
• Gender Equality in the ‘Next Stage’ of the ‘New Age’? Content and Fan Perceptions of English Media Coverage of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup
  
  Pope, S., Allison, R., & Petty, K. (2024). Gender Equality in the ‘Next Stage’ of the ‘New Age’? Content and Fan Perceptions of English Media Coverage of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Sociology of Sport Journal, 41(1), 27-38. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2022-0195
• ‘They are doing it because they love it’: U.S. and English fan perceptions of women footballers as ‘role models’
  
  Allison, R., Culvin, A., & Pope, S. (2024). ‘They are doing it because they love it’: U.S. and English fan perceptions of women footballers as ‘role models’. Sport in Society, 27(10), 1529-1548. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2024.2304230
• ‘Genuinely in love with the game’ football fan experiences and perceptions of women’s football in England
  
  Williams, J., Pope, S., & Cleland, J. (2023). ‘Genuinely in love with the game’ football fan experiences and perceptions of women’s football in England. Sport in Society, 26(2), 285-301. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2021.2021509
• Becoming Fans: Socialization and Motivations of Fans of the England and U.S. Women’s National Football Teams
  
  Allison, R., & Pope, S. (2022). Becoming Fans: Socialization and Motivations of Fans of the England and U.S. Women’s National Football Teams. Sociology of Sport Journal, 39(3), 287-297. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2021-0036
• An institutional analysis of gender (in)equalities, covid-19 and governance of elite women’s football in Australia, England and the USA
  
  Clarkson, B. G., Parry, K. D., Culvin, A., & Pope, S. (2022). An institutional analysis of gender (in)equalities, covid-19 and governance of elite women’s football in Australia, England and the USA. Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal, 12(4), 459-478. https://doi.org/10.1108/sbm-01-2021-0004
• Men’s Football Fandom and the Performance of Progressive and Misogynistic Masculinities in a ‘New Age’ of UK Women’s Sport
  
  Pope, S., Williams, J., & Cleland, J. (2022). Men’s Football Fandom and the Performance of Progressive and Misogynistic Masculinities in a ‘New Age’ of UK Women’s Sport. Sociology, 56(4), 730-748. https://doi.org/10.1177/00380385211063359
• Women's consumption of men's professional sport in Canada: Evidence of the ‘feminization’ of sports fandom and women as omnivorous sports consumers?
  
  Gemar, A., & Pope, S. (2022). Women’s consumption of men’s professional sport in Canada: Evidence of the ‘feminization’ of sports fandom and women as omnivorous sports consumers? International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 57(4), 552-574. https://doi.org/10.1177/10126902211026472
• Covid-19: Reflections on threat and uncertainty for the future of elite women’s football in England
  
  Clarkson, B. G., Culvin, A., Pope, S., & Parry, K. D. (2022). Covid-19: Reflections on threat and uncertainty for the future of elite women’s football in England. Managing Sport and Leisure : An International Journal., 27(1-2), 50-61. https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2020.1766377
• Women’s football fandom and growing the ‘Beautiful’ game
  
  Pope, S., & Allison, R. (2022). Women’s football fandom and growing the ‘Beautiful’ game. Science and Medicine in Football, 6(5), 547-548. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2022.2158585
• The Price of Success: Equal Pay and the US Women’s National Soccer Team
  
  Culvin, A., Bowes, A., Carrick, S., & Pope, S. (2022). The Price of Success: Equal Pay and the US Women’s National Soccer Team. Soccer & Society, 23(8), 920-931. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2021.1977280
• On the Periphery: Examining Women’s Exclusion from Core Leadership Roles in the “Extremely Gendered” Organization of Men’s Club Football in England
  
  Bryan, A., Pope, S., & Rankin-Wright, A. J. (2021). On the Periphery: Examining Women’s Exclusion from Core Leadership Roles in the “Extremely Gendered” Organization of Men’s Club Football in England. Gender and Society, 35(6), 940-970. https://doi.org/10.1177/08912432211046318
• Digital Pruning: Agency and Social Media Use as a Personal Political Project Among Female Weightlifters in Recovery from Eating Disorders
  
  Hockin-Boyers, H., Pope, S., & Jamie, K. (2021). Digital Pruning: Agency and Social Media Use as a Personal Political Project Among Female Weightlifters in Recovery from Eating Disorders. New Media and Society, 23(8), 2345-2366. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820926503
• ‘I do worry that football will become over-feminized’ : ambiguities in fan reflections on the gender order in men’s professional football in the United Kingdom
  
  Cleland, J., Pope, S., & Williams, J. (2020). ‘I do worry that football will become over-feminized’ : ambiguities in fan reflections on the gender order in men’s professional football in the United Kingdom. Sociology of Sport Journal, 37(4), 366-375. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2019-0060
• Moving Beyond the Image: Theorising 'Extreme' Female Bodies
  
  Hockin-Boyers, H., Jamie, K., & Pope, S. (2020). Moving Beyond the Image: Theorising ’Extreme’ Female Bodies. Women’s Studies International Forum, 83, Article 102416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2020.102416
• #gainingweightiscool: The use of transformation photos on Instagram among female weightlifters in recovery from eating disorders
  
  Hockin-Boyers, H., Pope, S., & Jamie, K. (2020). #gainingweightiscool: The use of transformation photos on Instagram among female weightlifters in recovery from eating disorders. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 13(1), 94-112. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676x.2020.1836511
• A New Age for Media Coverage of Women’s Sport? An Analysis of English Media Coverage of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup
  
  Petty, K., & Pope, S. (2019). A New Age for Media Coverage of Women’s Sport? An Analysis of English Media Coverage of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Sociology, 53(3), 486-502. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038518797505
• Female fan experiences and interpretations of the 1958 Munich air disaster, the 1966 World Cup finals and the rise of footballers as sexualised national celebrities
  
  Pope, S. (2016). Female fan experiences and interpretations of the 1958 Munich air disaster, the 1966 World Cup finals and the rise of footballers as sexualised national celebrities. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 51(7), 848-866. https://doi.org/10.1177/1012690214558284
• Policy for Physical Education and School Sport in England, 2003-2010: Vested Interests and Dominant Discourses
  
  Jung, H., Pope, S., & Kirk, D. (2016). Policy for Physical Education and School Sport in England, 2003-2010: Vested Interests and Dominant Discourses. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 21(5), 501-516. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2015.1050661
• 'It's Just Such a Class Thing': Rivalry and Class Distinction Between Female Fans of Men's Football and Rugby Union
  
  Pope, S. (2015). ’It’s Just Such a Class Thing’: Rivalry and Class Distinction Between Female Fans of Men’s Football and Rugby Union. Sociological Research Online, 20(2), Article 11. https://doi.org/10.5153/sro.3589
• 'There are Some Daft People Out There!': exploring female sport and media fandoms
  
  Pope, S. (2014). ’There are Some Daft People Out There!’: exploring female sport and media fandoms. Sport in Society, 17(2), 254-269. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2013.828708
• The Role of Physical Education and Other Formative Experiences of Three Generations of Female Football Fans
  
  Pope, S., & Kirk, D. (2014). The Role of Physical Education and Other Formative Experiences of Three Generations of Female Football Fans. Sport, Education and Society, 19(2), 223-240. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2011.646982
• “The Love of My Life”: The Meaning and Importance of Sport for Female Fans
  
  Pope, S. (2013). “The Love of My Life”: The Meaning and Importance of Sport for Female Fans. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 37(2), 176-195. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193723512455919
• Like Pulling down Durham Cathedral and Building a Brothel
  
  Pope, S. (2011). Like Pulling down Durham Cathedral and Building a Brothel. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 46(4), 471-487. https://doi.org/10.1177/1012690210384652
• Beyond Irrationality and the Ultras: Some Notes on Female English Rugby Union Fans and the 'Feminised' Sports Crowd
  
  Pope, S., & Williams, J. (2011). Beyond Irrationality and the Ultras: Some Notes on Female English Rugby Union Fans and the ’Feminised’ Sports Crowd. Leisure Studies, 30(3), 293-308. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2011.566626
• White Shoes to a Football Match!: Female Experiences of Football's Golden Age in England
  
  Pope, S., & Williams, J. (2011). White Shoes to a Football Match!: Female Experiences of Football’s Golden Age in England. Transformative Works and Cultures, 6.
• Out in the Field
  
  Pope, S. (2008). Out in the Field. Sociological Review, 17(4).

Newspaper/Magazine Article

• Sing When You’re Women: Why It’s Time to Take Female Sports Fans Seriously
  
  Pope, S. (2017). Sing When You’re Women: Why It’s Time to Take Female Sports Fans Seriously. The Conversation.

Report

• Women and Football Fandom: Reducing sexism and misogyny in men’s football and expanding the fanbase of girls and women
  
  Pope, S. (2022). Women and Football Fandom: Reducing sexism and misogyny in men’s football and expanding the fanbase of girls and women. Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Durham University.