ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the issue of invisible bodies in physical cultural studies (PCS) debates by considering Muslim women's experiences of sport. It offers an alternative approach to Muslim women's experiences of physical activity and leisure beyond the commonplace deficit model of participation. The chapter details how Muslim women's bodies are rendered invisible in physical cultural domains such as sport, despite growing media attention being paid to Muslim women post-9/11. It introduces transnational feminist theory to consider how it can help transform the way Muslim women's relationships to the complex field of physical culture are conceptualized. The chapter evaluates existing feminist research into Muslim women's sporting activities, and explores where and how Muslim women's experiences of sport and physical activity have been made visible and the limits and possibilities of PCS approach. It also draws on a research in areas that remain under-investigated in PCS of Muslim women – media, fandom and consumption – to illustrate arguments.
