Abstract
Three new public spaces in Tripoli offer new recreational opportunities for women in that city. Women take a rest from shopping in Grand Park, built in the 1990s next to the traditional commercial hub downtown. They visit the new waterfront Corniche to socialize, jog, or use the athletic equipment there, and they frequent the redesigned Abu-Sittah racetrack to enjoy the jogging track, the children’s playground, and the sitting areas. However, it is not just the physical provision of these spaces that allows for women’s recreation, alone, with friends or with family members. Significant economic and cultural changes in the status of women in Libyan society have made their presence in urban public space, once a male domain, socially acceptable. Drawing from historical research, this chapter examines this cultural shift. On-site observations conducted in 2013 document the kinds of activities women pursue in the three new spaces, in what locations, with whom, and in what attire. Interviews with women occupying the spaces, from different age groups and educational backgrounds, reveal their own experiences and preferences.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
