“It's the one place I don't have to fight": exploring Muslim women's sense of personhood and identity in boxing gyms through the lens of an Islamic model of the self

Previous research has noted significant mental health issues amongst the Muslim female community while they remain underrepresented in NHS mental health services. The intersection of their religious, sociocultural and gender identities are richly nuanced and often not well understood in secular Western society. As a minoritised community that is often misrepresented and misunderstood in the media as well as subject to the effects of racism and Islamophobia, we need to better understand how to address the impact of these issues on their wellbeing. Over the last decade or so, there has been a steady growth in Muslim women engaging in women’s only boxing groups. Research on sports has shown boxing to be beneficial to mental and physical wellbeing in a variety of ways such as improving emotional regulation, reducing stress and supporting cardiovascular health. The present study aimed to explore how Muslim women who have participated in boxing make meaning of the activity in relation to other aspects of their identity. Twelve Muslim women who have engaged in boxing took part in sensory ethnographic interviews. Narrative analysis identified five narrative themes: stories of (re) (claiming) aql, qalb, body and rūḥ, stories of a home away from home, stories of energising efforts to get closer to the Deen, stories of resistance, and stories of being the change. The findings indicate the importance of considering spiritual identity, approaches to nurturing positive embodiment and inclusivity, and honouring embodied resistance in addressing the mental health and holistic wellbeing of Muslim women. It is important to explore the interplay between boxing and the Muslim female identity so that we may be able to explore ways to meet the needs of this community in creative ways, beyond traditional NHS settings.