Behind the veil: exploring the recreation needs of Muslim women

Abstract

The recreation needs of minority groups are often subjugated or marginalized when facilities and/or programs are designated to cater for exigencies of the general population. This situation is further exacerbated when these recreation services, by the nature of their provision, informally exclude the participation of certain groups of people. This paper details a research project exploring the recreation needs of one such minority group, Muslim women living in Australia, a predominantly Christian country. The study reported in this paper utilized in-depth interviews with Muslim women, representatives of Muslim womens' groups and recreation service providers, in the collection of primary data on recreation needs and provision. The narratives, which emerged from these interviews, suggest that many Muslim women experience considerable difficulties accessing programs and services that meet their religious requirements, and consequently feel systemically constrained n their recreation participation.