Intersectional Oppression of Young Indo-Fijian Women: Cultural, Spatial, and Social Dimensions
摘要
This chapter combines arts-based and visual research methods with reflexive ethnography to explore the intersectional oppression of young Indo-Fijian women in Fijian sports. This approach strengthens data triangulation, provides deeper insights, and allows participants to express their identities through photos and poetry. Storytelling plays a crucial role in understanding lived experiences. The nine participants shared their stories through photos and free verses, which were woven into two creative nonfiction pieces—Two-Act Play: The Tomboy, the Domestic Cat, and the Celebrated Bull and Fijian (Re)AcTiOn Queens (A Duet Rap). These pieces highlight the interconnected narratives of the young Indo-Fijian women, amplifying their voices and capturing both emotional and cognitive aspects of their experiences. This chapter reveals that while Indo-Fijian girls are active in sports during primary school, they face heightened gender and racial discrimination in high school. Young Indo-Fijian women from rural areas report fewer barriers locally but encounter exclusion, racism, and social-class challenges when moving to urban high schools. Sports are often seen as culturally inappropriate by many Indo-Fijian families, leading to limited support. However, young Indo-Fijian women with sports-involved parents receive more encouragement. This chapter introduces the Fijian Cultural and Social Intersectional Status quo Scale (FCSISS), where iTaukei Christian men who play rugby, serve in the military, or own farmland are positioned at the top and young Indo-Fijian women are placed at the bottom. However, sporty Indo-Fijian women occupy varying positions on the scale, with those participating in rugby positioned higher than their counterparts who play soccer or netball.