| Summary: | This study examines women's use of leisure as politics, especially as related to
leisure as resistance, leisure and social worlds, and women's body image. Interviews
were conducted with fifteen participants and coaches in two all-women's triathlon
training groups in Austin, Texas. Both training groups prepared women for participation
in the Austin Danskin Triathlon. Qualitative methods, grounded theory and constant
comparison guided the interviewing and data analysis process. It was determined that
Danskin trainees formed a social world which allowed them to redefine their bodies and
redefine the tenets of organized sport. This finding centered around three major areas:
initial involvement, community building and resistance. Most participants became
involved initially for social reasons even though they often were out of shape or had not
previously participated in athletics. Several participants experienced barriers to
involvement commonly discussed in gender leisure studies including weight issues,
"ethic of care" concerns and fear of not deserving leisure time. During participation in
their training programs, the majority of trainees formed a community with their fellow
participants which provided them with a safe place and a support structure. As a result, many Austin Danskin triathlon trainees were able to communally resist cultural and
societal norms surrounding women's bodies and competitive athletics. As a group,
trainees redefined the way women should look and placed function above form.
Furthermore, they reclaimed sport from the male norm and instead demanded that it go
beyond bigger, better, faster or stronger and instead focus on community, support and
teamwork. The results of this study urge leisure providers to create programs that appeal
to the whole person - not just the physical.
As a result of the data, several hypotheses may be suggested for future study:
Do women's only recreation programs provide a crucial link between social world
formation and leisure as resistance? What other programs may produce similar results
and why?
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