My research is centered at the intersection of Crtical Theory, Feminist Theory, Body Sociology and Philosophy.
Grounded in critical feminist theory, my work examines how gender shapes our understanding and experience of the body, health, and physical activity. I investigate the social construction of the ideal female body in fitness culture and analyze the lived experiences of women in exercise spaces.
Another significant part of my work involves decolonial research in health and physical education, where I challenge dominant Western-centric paradigms. In this, I often turn to ancient Chinese philosophy, particularly Daoist thought, to explore more holistic and relational ways of understanding the body and wellbeing.
Methodologically, I am deeply committed to qualitative approaches, such as storytelling, ethnography, postqualitative inquiry etc, as I believe in their power to capture nuanced lived experiences and amplify marginalised voices.
First Author
Peng, B. (2025). Embracing or Resisting? How Feminist Beliefs Moderate Internalization and Body Dissatisfaction Among Educated Chinese Women. Mass Communication and Society. Accepted (SSCI Q1)
Peng, B. (2025). In the name of achievement: women’s fitness body in an era of ‘positivity’. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-06198-5 (SSCI, Q1)
Peng, B., Gray, S., & Ha, A. S. (2025) Beyond Marginalisation: Reimagining and Glocalising Physical Education in China. Sport, Education and Society, 1-14 https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2025.2571155 (SSCI Q1)
Peng, B. (2025). Iron woman, shoreline fish: an ethnographic case story of being depressed and the (Un)becoming of a runner. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2025.2563284 (SSCI, Q1)
Peng, B. (2025). Embodying the Cosmos: Taoism Bodily Philosophy, Chinese Medicine, and Relational Body. Recherches & éducations, 30–31. OpenEdition Journals. https://doi.org/10.4000/14l9s (French Journal)
Peng, B., Ng, J. Y., & Ha, A. S. (2023). Barriers and facilitators to physical activity for young adult women: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative literature. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 20(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01411-7 (SCIE, Q1)
Co-Authors
Ha, A. S., Fung, Y., Sum, R. K., Chan, C. H., He, Q., Peng, B., ... & Ng, J. Y. (2025). Identifying moderators of physical literacy interventions using meta-regression. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 102848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.102848 (SSCI, Q1)
Tang, D., Peng, B., Ma, R., & Sum, K. W. R. (2025). Dispelling stigma and enduring bias: exploring the perception of esports participation among young women. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04392-z (SSCI, Q1)
Jiang, S., Ng, J. Y., Chong, K. H., Peng, B., & Ha, A. S. (2024). Effects of eHealth Interventions on 24-Hour Movement Behaviors Among Preschoolers: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26, e52905. https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e52905 (SCIE, Q1)
Ha, A. S., Ng, J. Y., Zeng, T., Jiang S., Peng B., Measurement of Quantity and Quality of Physical Activity within School Settings. In Goodyear, V.A., & Bundon, A. (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Digital Technologies in Sport, Exercise, and Physical Education (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003411758
2026
Peng, B. (2026 May), Iron Woman, Shoreline Fish: An Ethnographic Story of Depression and the (Un)Becoming of a Runner, Oral Presentation, International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (QRSE), Toronto, Canada
2025
Peng, B. (2025 December), Iron Woman, Shoreline Fish: An Ethnographic Story of Depression and the (Un)Becoming of a Runner, Oral Presentation, World Congress of Sport Psychology (ISSP), Hong Kong
Peng, B. (2025 December), Fit but Never ‘Enough’: Body Surveillance and Emotional Harm of Women, Oral Presentation in Symposium (Body-Focused Self-Perceptions and Links to Psychological and Physical Harm in Exercise Populations), World Congress of Sport Psychology (ISSP), Hong Kong
Peng, B. (2025 July), In the Name of Achievement, Women’s Fitness Body in an Era of ‘Positivity’, Oral Presentation, World Congress of Sociology of Sport (ISSA), Seoul, South Korea
Peng, B. (2025 July), There is Education, There is Physical Education: Recapitulate the Marginalisation of Physical Education, Oral Presentation, the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Rimini, Italy.
Peng, B. (2025 June), In the Name of Achievement, Women’s Fitness Body in an Era of ‘Positivity, Oral Presentation, European Conference for the Sociology of Sport (EASS), Warsaw, Poland
2024
Peng, B. (2024 July), Localising, Indigenising, Decolonising Qualitative Method, Oral Presentation, International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (QRSE), Bath, UK.
Peng, B., Ha, A. S. (2024 July), Social Media Propagation: Exploring the Spread of Fitspiration in China and Feminism's Shield Against Body Dissatisfaction, Oral Presentation, European Congress of Sport and Exercise Psychology (FEPSAC), Innsbruck, Austria.
2023
Peng, B., Ha, A. S., & Ng, J. Y. Y. (2023 July), Barriers and facilitators to physical activity for young adult women: a qualitative synthesis, Poster, European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Paris, France. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.29001.56166
Peng, B., Ng, J. Y. Y., & Ha, A. S. (2023 June), Barriers and facilitators to physical activity for young adult women a systematic review of qualitative research, Poster, International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), Uppsala, Sweden. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.15579.78888
2022
Peng, B., & Ha, A. S. (2022 June) ‘Chinese parents' perception of daily physical activity routine in preschoolers: A qualitative exploration, Online Poster, International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP) , Gold Coast, Australia. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.32357.00484