Faith, religion and feminist thought in sport, leisure and physical education

Abstract

The focus of this chapter is on the authors’ research into the experiences of Muslim women in sport and physical education. International studies with Muslim women in diverse situations have positioned the authors to reflect on the role that faith, religion and feminist thought have had on enabling or denying opportunities for this groups’ sport participation. The chapter is divided into four sections: (1) Contested feminisms and issues for researching Muslim women and sport; (2) A review of studies in the field of Muslim women and sport; (3) A catalyst for our research in the field of Muslim women and sport; and (4) Reflections and recommendations on researching across cultural and religious boundaries. Key qualities for anyone engaging in this field are: to hear the voices of others; to respect the prominence of faith in the lives of some religious people who want to participate in sport; to be sensitive to differences in situation; and to strive for a global mindset.