Embodying Indigeneity in the Mountains: Creating Inclusive Adventure Spaces for Welsh Women, UK

Great to work with Dr Emma Boocock, Northumbria University, on this paper for CABI’s Tourism Cases:

Summary
This case study examines an intersecting legacy of exclusion in the Welsh mountains, UK, and how this is challenged by Welsh women’s participation in outdoor adventure courses. The research critically appraised how Indigenous Welsh women1 navigate gender, class, and racial landscapes in mountain leisure to create inclusive spaces. Facilitated by a National Charitable Organization (NCO) that engages Indigenous Welsh communities in mountain adventure, we explored women’s embodied experiences through mobile video ethnography. Methodologically embodiment facilitated a way of capturing bodily sensations and experiences, which provided a language to express those ideas through reflexive analysis (Ellingson, 2017). The findings highlight how women embody cultural identity in the mountains, which contributes to understanding issues of exclusion/inclusion in adventure spaces.

The Value and Interest of the Case Study

Although the presence of women in mountain adventure is increasing recreationally and professionally, Welsh-speaking women who use their local outdoor spaces for leisure and career purposes are largely absent. This study explores how deep-rooted cultural assumptions associated with mountains and mountaineering produce exclusion, and how the involvement of Indigenous Welsh women in non-traditional adventure activities can create inclusive spaces of leisure.

Read it here http://Embodying Indigeneity in the Mountains: Creating Inclusive Adventure Spaces for Welsh Women, UK