Biography
In 2021, Dr Bancroft was awarded her doctorate in the Sociology of Gender. For her thesis, she combined American philosopher Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity with French philosopher Michel Foucault’s theories of power and surveillance. She explored the significance of gender in the play of power in workplaces and explored how ideas around femininity can be a discipline that can produce docile and compliant bodies which can operate as forms of social control in workplaces.
As a lifelong sports and physical education fan, Dr Bancroft also holds a BA in Secondary Physical Education Teaching, and Qualified Teacher Status in Secondary Physical Education from the same institution and has taught in a number of schools across West Yorkshire and finished her teaching career as Assistant Headteacher of Springwell Academy (Leeds).
She has spoken regularly at Youth Sports Trust conferences and Association for Physical Education events. Prior to working at King’s, Dr Kate Bancroft was a Course Director in the following postgraduate courses: MA Education Studies, MA Race, Education & Decolonial Thought, MA Early Years, MA Coaching and Mentoring Studies. Kate now supervises MA and PhD students.
Research interests
- The sociocultural examination of women and girls in sport and physical education, focussing on sex-based equalities.
- Media representations of women in sport and physical education.
- Women and their experiences of working in professional sport (especially Formula one).
Dr Bancroft is open to PhD supervision on any of the above research topics. For any potential research students interested in her supervising their studies, please email her.