Abstract:
The recreation needs of minority groups are often subjugated or marginalized
when facilities and/or programs are designed 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 in their recreation participation.
