Challenging hegemony: Indo-Fijians, Roy Krishna, and the New Global South Masculinities

Rugby dominates the sports landscape in Fiji, particularly among iTaukei people, and is associated with hegemonic masculinity, while soccer is seen as a softer sport. Rugby excludes Indo-Fijians, who instead participate in soccer, representing both men's clubs and national teams. While there is extensive research on native Fijian engagement with rugby and some on race and class issues in Fijian soccer, there is limited literature on Fijian sporting celebrities outside rugby. This paper addresses this gap by focussing on the perspectives of young Indo-Fijian women through a year of ethnographic research in Fiji. Utilising arts-based research methods, including poetry workshops and photo elicitation, the study explores how gender and physicality in sports are understood by these women. The research often highlighted Roy Krishna, a prominent Indo-Fijian soccer player, as a key figure. The study analyses how Krishna's masculinity is perceived by young Indo-Fijian women in relation to gender and race in sports. Findings reveal that perceptions of masculinity and femininity are culturally and contextually variable. Within the same ethnic community, some Indo-Fijian women view Krishna as an example of hegemonic masculinity, while others see his masculinity as subordinate compared to the dominant iTaukei rugby ideal. This chapter offers an alternative perspective on Fijian masculinities, challenging the traditional association of hegemonic masculinity solely with rugby and providing insights into how it is differently understood within the Indo-Fijian community.