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Laura Dawson
Programs
How my research Improves Life…
The majority of the scholarly literature on the sociology of sports pertains to sports that are often team-based and scored in the binary; win or loss. Sports such as hockey, football, or baseball. I would like to understand how sports with a judged scoring system impact parental involvement and the relationship between the athlete, parent, and coach. More specifically, looking at female- identifying athletes in dance, gymnastics and figure skating.
Why U of G?
I completed my BA at the University of Guelph and truly loved the campus and atmosphere. I knew I wanted to continue my education through post-graduate studies so when my professors approached me to look into completing a Masters at Guelph, it aligned quite well with my personal goals.
About my path...
I started my BA in 2019 at the University of Guelph and lost a large portion of my undergrad to virtual school due to the global pandemic. I also was a varsity athlete and was keen on returning as a coach after graduation. During my fourth-year courses, I began to research the sociology of sport and wanted to explore similar experiences to some of my own. This exploration then turned into a thesis idea that connected both my academic and athletic goals. I am now both a Masters student and the assistant coach of the varsity figure skating team.
About the work I am doing at U of G...
I began my work looking at how capital impacts success in children in both school and sport. As an athlete myself, I found that sports helped me in school and kept me focused. I had always been interested in the difference financial and emotional support had on athletic success. I became curious about how parental income impacted their child's athletic success. This then turned into my thesis now which narrows in on how parental influence shapes youth sports participation.