Dr Mair Underwood
Dr

Mair Underwood

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52963

Background

Mair Underwood is an anthropologist in the School of Social Science who specialises in bodies. In particular she explores how body modifications (such as tattoo or bodybuilding) are used to create, reflect and disrupt social boundaries such as those of gender and class. She is especially interested in the social lives of image and performance enhancing drugs: how they acquire meaning through social interactions and how they alter social interactions.

She also has an interest in assessment practice and has conducted research into assessment techniques that promote student engagement and academic integrity and compiled them into a searchable database called the UQ Assessment Ideas Factory

Mair is passionate about community engagement and engages with the community through her YouTube profile and podcasts such as this one with VPA Australia https://www.vpa.com.au/podcast

Mair Underwood coordinates two courses:

SOSC2190 Human Bodies, Culture and Society

SOCY1060 Gender, Sexuality and Society: An Introduction

Availability

Dr Mair Underwood is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Anthropology Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Gender studies Health Sciences Human Society Sociology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • bodybuilding

    I am currently conducting participant observation amongst recreational (i.e. non-competitive) bodybuilders.

  • tattoo

    I am interested in how tattoo is used to construct and negotiate social boundaries such as gender and class.

  • body

    I am interested in the social and cultural aspects of human bodies.

  • body modification

    I am particularly interested in the various ways that people modify their bodies such as tattoo, bodybuilding, cosmetic procedures, weight loss or gain, and genital surgeries.

  • online ethnography

    I am currently conducting an online ethnography of recreational bodybuilders.

Research impacts

Mair Underwood has written numerous academic publications which have been cited by world experts. She prioritises community engagement featuring in the media regularly, and participating in panel discussions for varied audiences.

Mair Underwood has produced 15 papers and two book chapters including two sole aiuthor and 4 first author papers. Fifty per cent of these papers are in ERA ranked A or A* journals and over 50% of these journals have impact factors of 2 or higher. Since her PhD she has presented at three national and two international conferences (one of the latter by invitation to Cambridge with all expenses paid by the conference). Her journal publications have been cited 96 times (Google Scholar) with an average of 6.8 citations per paper. Despite her short research career her h-index is 5 (Google Scholar). Her recognition as a body expert by the community has led to dozens of print, radio and television features, as well as invites to speak to various audiences outside of academia.

Search Professor Mair Underwood’s works on UQ eSpace

34 works between 2005 and 2025
All (34) Journal Article (24) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (6) Other Outputs (1)

21 - 34 of 34 works

2015

Book Chapter

Some thoughts on tattoo and art

Underwood, Mair (2015). Some thoughts on tattoo and art. A permanent mark: the impact of tattoo culture on contemporary art. (pp. 22-31) Townsville, QLD, Australia: Gallery Services, Townsville City Council.

Some thoughts on tattoo and art

2014

Journal Article

What reassurances do the community need regarding life extension? evidence from studies of community attitudes and an analysis of film portrayals

Underwood, Mair (2014). What reassurances do the community need regarding life extension? evidence from studies of community attitudes and an analysis of film portrayals. Rejuvenation Research, 17 (2), 105-115. doi: 10.1089/rej.2013.1479

What reassurances do the community need regarding life extension? evidence from studies of community attitudes and an analysis of film portrayals

2013

Journal Article

Body as choice or body as compulsion: an experiental perspective on body-self relations and the boundary between normal and pathological

Underwood, Mair (2013). Body as choice or body as compulsion: an experiental perspective on body-self relations and the boundary between normal and pathological. Health Sociology Review, 22 (4), 377-388. doi: 10.5172/hesr.2013.22.4.377

Body as choice or body as compulsion: an experiental perspective on body-self relations and the boundary between normal and pathological

2011

Journal Article

More than just a talkfest: The process of developing collaborations in ageing across two different community types

Warburton, Jeni, Everingham, Jo-Anne, Cuthill, Michael, Bartlett, Helen and Underwood, Mair (2011). More than just a talkfest: The process of developing collaborations in ageing across two different community types. Urban Policy and Research, 29 (2), 183-200. doi: 10.1080/08111146.2011.562146

More than just a talkfest: The process of developing collaborations in ageing across two different community types

2010

Journal Article

Reflexivity and minimization of the impact of age-cohort differences between researcher and research participants

Underwood, Mair, Satterthwait, Leonn D. and Bartlett, Helen P. (2010). Reflexivity and minimization of the impact of age-cohort differences between researcher and research participants. Qualitative Health Research, 20 (11), 1585-1595. doi: 10.1177/1049732310371102

Reflexivity and minimization of the impact of age-cohort differences between researcher and research participants

2009

Journal Article

Life extension technology: implications for public policy and regulation

Bartlett, Helen and Underwood, Mair (2009). Life extension technology: implications for public policy and regulation. Health Sociology Review, 18 (4), 423-433. doi: 10.5172/hesr.2009.18.4.423

Life extension technology: implications for public policy and regulation

2009

Journal Article

Professional and personal attitudes of researchers in ageing towards life extension

Underwood, Mair, Bartlett, Helen P. and Hall, Wayne D. (2009). Professional and personal attitudes of researchers in ageing towards life extension. Biogerontology, 10 (1), 73-81. doi: 10.1007/s10522-008-9149-3

Professional and personal attitudes of researchers in ageing towards life extension

2009

Journal Article

Community perceptions on the significant extension of life: An exploratory study among urban adults in Brisbane, Australia

Underwood, M, Bartlett, HP, Partridge, B, Lucke, J and Hall, WD (2009). Community perceptions on the significant extension of life: An exploratory study among urban adults in Brisbane, Australia. SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE, 68 (3), 496-503. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.11.002

Community perceptions on the significant extension of life: An exploratory study among urban adults in Brisbane, Australia

2009

Journal Article

Mapping community concerns about radical extensions of human life expectancy

Partridge, Brad, Hall, Wayne, Lucke, Jayne, Underwood, Mair and Bartlett, Helen (2009). Mapping community concerns about radical extensions of human life expectancy. The American Journal of Bioethics, 9 (12), W4-W5. doi: 10.1080/15265160903316446

Mapping community concerns about radical extensions of human life expectancy

2009

Journal Article

Ethical concerns in the community about technologies to extend human life span

Partridge, Brad, Underwood, Mair, Lucke, Jayne, Bartlett, Helen and Hall, Wayne (2009). Ethical concerns in the community about technologies to extend human life span. The American Journal of Bioethics, 9 (12), 68-76. doi: 10.1080/15265160903318368

Ethical concerns in the community about technologies to extend human life span

2007

Journal Article

Building capacity in ageing research: Implications from a survey of emerging researchers in Australia

Bartlett, H., Underwood, M. and Peach, L. (2007). Building capacity in ageing research: Implications from a survey of emerging researchers in Australia. Australasian Journal On Ageing, 26 (4), 187-193. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2007.00262.x

Building capacity in ageing research: Implications from a survey of emerging researchers in Australia

2007

Conference Publication

Community attitudes to the regulation of life extension

Underwood, M., Bartlett, H. P. and Hall, W. D. (2007). Community attitudes to the regulation of life extension. The 3rd International Conference on Healthy Ageing and Longevity, Melbourne, Australia, 13-15 October 2006. New York, United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1196/annals.1396.033

Community attitudes to the regulation of life extension

2005

Conference Publication

Younger people researching older people

Underwood, Mair (2005). Younger people researching older people. AAG Conference 2005: 38th National Conference of the Australian Association of Gerontology, Surfers Paradise, QLD, Australia, 9-11 November 2005. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2005.00130.x

Younger people researching older people

2005

Other Outputs

Living in bodies, living as bodies : the relationship between body and self at different ages

Underwood, Mair (2005). Living in bodies, living as bodies : the relationship between body and self at different ages. PhD Thesis, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/107299

Living in bodies, living as bodies : the relationship between body and self at different ages

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Including the voice of boys and young men in their well-being education
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2028
    Investigating how boys and young men experience their digital lives
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2017 - 2018
    Understanding how and why image and performance enhancing drugs are used recreationally
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Developing a database of innovative assessment techniques to promote student engagement and deter academic misconduct
    UQ Teaching Innovation Grants
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Mair Underwood is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The impact of feminism on young Chileans women's corporal practices.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jenny Munro

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Online Dating Experiences of Cancer Survivors

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Stefanie Plage, Associate Professor Rebecca Olson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Considering a model for understanding the Australian Extreme Right-Wing

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jonah Rimer, Dr Garth Stahl

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Performance and Image Enhancing Drug (PIED) use in Australia: key individual and social determinants of initiation and dependence and gender-based differences

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Leanne Hides, Dr Zoe Walter

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr Mair Underwood directly for media enquiries about:

  • Ageing and body image
  • Ageing and cosmetic surgery
  • anabolic-androgenic steroids
  • Beauty and ageing
  • Beauty and society
  • Body image
  • Body modification
  • Bodybuilding
  • Cosmetic surgery
  • image and performance enhancing drugs
  • Life extension - community attitudes
  • Muscle
  • Scarification
  • Sexuality
  • Sociology of sport
  • Sport - sociology
  • steroids
  • Tattooing
  • Youth and body image

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au