ERC Starting Grant for research on diversity in outdoor recreation
In Europe, people from minoritized communities are often less involved in outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. However, identity-based groups are reclaiming their place in these spaces and challenging their sense of not belonging outdoors. With an ERC grant, anthropologist Jasmijn Rana will explore how these movements address the lack of diversity and how ethno-racial inequalities are experienced and resisted in Europe's outdoor spaces.
Spending time outdoors is known to improve well-being and health, yet not everyone participates equally in outdoor activities - a fact largely overlooked by European institutions. While 'diversity, equity and inclusion' are emphasised in many fields, inequalities in outdoor recreation have only recently received attention. The lack of ethnoracial diversity in outdoor spaces points to a deeper, less visible problem that goes beyond participation or access. "Ethnoracial inequalities have become deeply entrenched over time at an intersubjective level," explains Rana. "There is an urgent need to study the socio-cultural dimensions of outdoor recreation in Europe to better understand how inequalities are embodied."
Identities shaped by bodies and social labels
The research project Diversity Outdoors: Embodied Ethnoracial Inequalities and Outdoor Recreation in Europe, will explore how identities are shaped by both physical bodies and societal labels, with a focus on sport and recreation as key areas of study. Previously, Rana researched identity formation in women-only kickboxing spaces and later moved on to studying body movement in public spaces. During a fellowship at UC Berkeley, she observed how identity-based activist groups reshape outdoor recreation while maintaining transnational connections with similar groups across Europe.
First ethnographic study of socio-cultural diversity in European outdoor recreation
The research will provide insights into the evolving processes of diversity in outdoor recreation and advance our understanding of racialised embodiment. "This project could reveal how racialisation is experienced in deeply personal and physical ways across Europe - something that is often overlooked," says Rana. "It will be the first ethnographic study of socio-cultural diversity in European outdoor recreation, potentially supporting the development of more justice-oriented policies and practices."
A multi-site and multi-scale project
This project will conduct a comparative ethnographic study of ethnoracial embodiment in outdoor recreation in Western Europe, with a focus on sensory experiences. The research will take a multi-sited and multi-scalar approach, analysing local, national and transnational dimensions of diversity in outdoor spaces. It will compare three countries with emerging identity-based outdoor groups: the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom.
The project
This five-year research project will start in January 2025. As Principal Investigator, Jasmijn Rana will lead the project and carry out the transnational research component. Two PhD students, to be recruited in September 2025, will conduct ethnographic case studies across Europe. The project will also create paid research opportunities for Masters students in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology.
Contact for more information
Outdoor groups, activists, organisations and prospective MSc or PhD students interested in collaborating are encouraged to contact Jasmijn Rana for more information.