The Bikerni: an ethnographic study on women motorcyclists in modern India

Abstract

ABSTRACT Motorcycling has evolved from the early subcultural concepts of resistance and deviance to a unique leisure option. Riding with a motorcycle club is culturally perceived as a masculine activity. In the early days of motorcycle clubs, women possessed a subservient role with limited riding options. Together with their changing role in the society, women shifted from the rear to riding seat and came to the forefront of riding community. Women bikers and motorcycle subculture have been considerably discussed in the western academia, but there seems to be a dearth of research on motorcycling subculture in the Indian context. This research focuses on exploring the existing role of women in an all-female motorcycle club, within the socio-cultural context of India and aims to comprehend the female bikers’ motivation and behaviour within the club. It does not specifically examine gender issues or adopt a feminist epistemology, rather uses gender merely as a frame to examine subcultures. This paper is a result of a six-month ethnographic fieldwork in an all-female motorcycle club called ‘The Bikerni’. We hope that this research gives a deeper insight into the world of women bikers in India and help stakeholders make informed decisions regarding this emerging group’s needs.