Empowerment through digital health trackers: an exploration of Indigenous Australian women and physical activity in leisure settings

ABSTRACT

Drawing on a strengths-based empowerment approach and Indigenous traditions of ‘yarning’, this research explores how digital health technologies might contribute to Indigenous Australian women’s increased participation in physical activity in leisure settings. While people have long controlled their bodies, conventionally through diaries and weight scales, digital self-tracking of one’s bodily states and activities continues to expand. No previous studies have addressed how these technologies influence physical activity among this population and there is limited research about Indigenous Australian people’s leisure experiences and the meanings they attribute to them. Accordingly, this research contributes to an under researched area of health and leisure studies concerned with understanding the social, narrative and affective facets of individuals’ practices and experiences. Key findings from the pilot study include intersections between the use of health trackers and Indigenous women’s prioritizing time for leisure, increased physical activity, enhanced health literacy, and greater personal accountability for lifestyle choices.

KEYWORDS:

• Aboriginal
• digital health trackers
• leisure
• physical activity
• Indigenous women
• self-tracking
• yarning

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Australia and New Zealand Association of Leisure Studies.

Notes on contributors

Hazel Maxwell

Dr Hazel Maxwell has research and teaching interests in issues around health and well-being, physical activity, community sport, social impact, social inclusion and diversity management.

Michelle O’Shea

Dr Michelle O'Shea is a Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University and her research interests include gender and diversity in sport management.

Megan Stronach

Dr Megan Stronach has research interests which focus on the experiences of Indigenous people in sport and leisure contexts.

Sonya Pearce

Dr Sonya Pearce is a Gooreng Gooreng woman with over 35 years in Indigenous education, employment, training and community development. Sonya continues to teach and research in the space of Indigenous Innovation and Entrepreneurship.