Female Solidarity on the Wall: Climbing Together in Physical and Virtual Spaces

• In Event: 50409 - Regular Session on Gender: Challenging Gender

Abstract

This study examines the female solidarity among women in Chinese indoor rock climbing gyms. With the increasing popularity of climbing, historically a male-dominated sport, among urban young women, this research explores how they form female solidarity in climbing gyms. I investigate how female solidarity is co-constructed through the intersection of online and offline interaction rituals, with women actively shaping both online and offline communities through shared physical experiences and supportive social interactions. I argue that the increased popularity of indoor rock-climbing among urban young women in China reflects how female solidarity is built, where women gather in shared spaces to form supportive networks that foster female empowerment, both physically and mentally. This solidarity is supported through interaction rituals (Collins 1981) on-site and online. The locations and arrangements of climbing gyms forms a critical condition for this solidarity to physically emerge, while user-generated content on social media further strengthen the sense of beloning symbolically. Semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and online ethnography are employed to capture the social dynamics of climbing gyms and the role of digital platforms in facilitating solidarity. Preliminary findings suggest the vitality of the female-friendly environment and location that strengthen the solidarity among female climbers, while online communications help to bring larger-scale cohesion with a focus on female empowerment. This research builds on Collins’ interaction ritual (IR) theory and related discussion on bodily co-presence by emphasizing the symbiotic relationship of both modes of interactions in fostering female empowerment.

Author

• Yifang Li, University of Toronto