Beyond Barriers: Resource Dependencies and the Evolution of Women-Only Running Spaces in Qatar

Abstract

This thesis examines how resource dependencies shape the capacity of women-only running spaces in Qatar to facilitate increased sport participation among women. Through semi-structured interviews with 20 participants across four women- only running groups and underpinned by the resource dependency theory, the study analyzes how these grassroots organizations navigate complex sociocultural environments while managing critical resource constraints. The findings reveal an ecosystem of resource dependencies organized in three dimensions: contextual factors (cultural-religious dynamics, health benefits framing), core resources (physical space access, financial sustainability, human capital, media reach), and strategic adaptations (community as social capital, race events, modest athletic wear, stakeholder relations). Women's running groups demonstrate significant agency in transforming constraints into strategic assets through cultural reframing and innovative resource conversion. This study challenges prevailing assumptions that position gender integration as the universal ideal for women's sport participation. In Qatar's cultural context, gender-exclusive environments function not as temporary accommodations but as essential resources that directly enable participation through cultural alignment. The research reconceptualizes gender-exclusive spaces from barriers to critical resources that must be secured and expanded to maximize women's sporting engagement. The findings extend current literature on women’s participation in sport by highlighting how definitional power, the authority to determine what constitutes a legitimate resource, represents a critical dependency in culturally distinctive environments. Recommendations include prioritizing culturally appropriate spaces, developing health-oriented legitimation strategies, and fostering partnerships that acknowledge both cultural parameters and participation objectives.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Science and Engineering