An in-depth study of the links between space, place, and gender is necessary to understand the dynamics of sporting spaces. Gender relations are spatially organized in Indian society, that is, dominant positions are occupied by men whereas subordinate positions by women, which also resonates within the sporting field. The ‘myth of female frailty’ became a defining feature of ideas about women, gender, and physical activity. (Theberge, 1989) On the other hand, the ‘contested terrain’ (Messner, 1988) of women’s sports has seen tremendous growth in India in recent days due to certain women athletes’ grit and resistance. Thus, this paper intends to study how Indian women athletes entered into this masculine space, created their own space and survived along with their male peers. “The Day I Became a Runner: A Women’s History of India Through the Lens of Sport,” a collection of biographies of women runners in post-Independence India, by Sohini Chattopadhyay is taken for textual analysis. Doreen Massey’s Gender and Space theory explores the dynamic relationship between space, place, and social relations, emphasizing the fluid and relational nature of space. Applying this theory allows for a nuanced exploration of the socio-spatial dynamics within the world of athletics in India, shedding light on how gender shapes both the physical and social dimensions of this activity.

Authors:
Abish Jebeshy R, Central University of Tamil Nadu, India

About the Presenter(s)
Ms. Abish Jebeshy R is a University Doctoral Student at Central University of Tamil Nadu in India. Her primary area of research is gender and sporting spaces in India.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abish-jebeshy-r-7a4985252/

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Abish-Jebeshy/research

Additional website of interest
https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0009-0007-4538-2734

See this presentation on the full schedule – On Demand Schedule

Bookmark