Lauren R. Nowosatka (she/her)

Lauren Nowosatka is a doctoral candidate in Physical Cultural Studies in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Maryland. Her research interests are heavily drawn upon and inspired by experiences growing up as a high-level gymnast, broadly pertaining to feminist concerns within physical culture, particularly environments upholding ‘emphasized femininity’, in addition to safe sport, constructions of gendered norms, and media representation(s) thereof. Lauren’s Master’s Thesis, conducted under the supervision of Dr. Shannon Jette, examined constructions of femininity and empowerment on the reality television show, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making The Team, theorizing contemporary (sporting) feminine Americana. Her current dissertation work explores the ontological, epistemological, and axiological underpinnings and material realizations of “safe sport” in contemporary American sporting culture, foregrounded by the longstanding culture of abuse (in its myriad forms) in women’s artistic gymnastics. Lauren’s research has been presented at the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Conference, International Congress for Safe Sport Research, and Professional Association for Athlete Development Specialists Research Symposium. Further, her work has been published in the Journal of Sport and Social Issues.