The Future of Experience: Roller Derby Beirut
Feminism, Physical Space, Sport, and Freedom on the Rink. An Interview.
Wiem Ben Rim, 21, is a member of Roller Derby Beirut, which was made up of students studying at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. Despite the fact that there is little support for women’s sports (not to mention women’s rights) in Lebanon, the members of Roller Derby Beirut have demanded space both on and off the court. Priyal Thakkar, a student in Mumbai, spoke to Wiem about roller derby, freedom and feminism.
Priyal Thakkar: OK, let’s start with the basics…Why roller derby?
Wiem Ben Rim: For me it was a happy coincidence because my roommate started going to practice, and I just tagged along to see. I didn’t know what roller derby was, but for many of [the women], they’d watched the movie Whip It and wanted to try. We thought it was just skating at first, and none of us knew how to skate, and then it slowly grew into realizing that we were part of this team sport and we got really into it.
PT: Do you think that by coming together around this shared passion, it then spurred initiatives or conversations into other spaces? In other words, by creating a physical space, the rink, to come together, did it translate into creating spaces outside as well?
WBR: Yeah, definitely. When we first got into this, some of us were just acquaintances — and by playing the sport, we got really close. We’re from different nationalities, different ages, different majors — so of course, we were very curious about each other. It was really an experience to get to know each other in roller derby, and then take that conversation outside.
PT: In much of the press on you, there is the focus on your ethnicity and gender that borders on patronizing and, to be totally honest, racist. The whole “look at the girls in hijabs on skates,” does that frustrate you?
WBR: When we first started getting media attention, it was great. We wanted people to hear about us so we could have more people join. And then, when it got bigger than we have expected, a lot of people were only talking about how these hijabis are doing a sport and the emphasis was on the fact that we have Muslims on the team. That’s annoying because we never thought about it like something tied to our ethnicity or gender. We just wanted to do the sport.
PT: Yeah, that must be frustrating given how pure your love is for the sport. So, what is the most compelling or valuable aspect of roller derby, in your opinion?
WBR: It’s a lot of things. At first, it was just being on skates and going as fast as you can, and then it became being good at it, and having teammates that support you. But I think that feeling — that energy and density that’s happening with these women — is what I love.
PT: And for you on a personal or emotional level, why is roller derby important?
WBR: It is a safe place to be yourself, to not really care about who’s looking or what’s happening. We really all look like messes, and we don’t care as long as we give it our best during the game. We can have fun without any conditions on it. The way it lets us be in charge of ourselves, and try different things without caring about being judged.
PT: Are there other places in your life that give you this same feeling?
WBR: No, this particular feeling I don’t have at any other time or any other place. Because the adrenaline rush that’s in the game and everything that happens during the game, lets you be yourself. But, what’s interesting is that at the same time, I can’t totally be myself because I am part of the team. For example, if I don’t feel like going to practice, they won’t be able to play because it takes all of us. Committing to the group but still being yourself, that is what makes roller derby special.
PT: OK, last question. The word “feminism” — do you all identify with it? Would you say you’re a feminist? Or is it a word that feels limiting?
WBR: Well it’s hard to speak for the whole team, because we are different people and I don’t know what they think; but for myself, I don’t mind being called a feminist. However, for some people, the definition of feminism is so unclear that the label becomes a problem. We are trying not to be called those things because often it’s not even about us anymore. So we just want to be known for what we’re doing, and the game, and why we’re doing it — rather than defining stereotypes and all that stuff.
