<![CDATA[This study examines how female university students involved in martial arts in Pancor interpret their participation, respond to social perceptions, and reconstruct their position in social spaces. A qualitative case study design was employed. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation during fieldwork conducted from March to July 2024. The informants consisted of female athletes, coaches, training partners, family members, and members of the surrounding community. Data were analyzed through data reduction, data display, conclusion drawing, and thematic interpretation of emerging patterns. The findings reveal three main points. First, female participants interpret martial arts as a means of self-protection, physical and psychological development, and achievement in non-academic fields. Second, women’s participation remains negotiated through social stereotypes that associate martial arts with men, physical toughness, and an allegedly inappropriate form of femininity. Third, the training community functions as a social space that encourages changes in attitude, self-confidence, social interaction, and perceptions of women’s roles. These findings indicate that gender construction operates dialectically: social norms impose boundaries, while training experiences, community interaction, and athletic achievement provide resources for producing new meanings about women and martial arts.]]>
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