Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Faculty of Physical Education & Sport Sciences,University of Tabriz , Tabriz, IRAN
Abstract
Objective: Muslim women athletes in Iran have faced numerous challenges and issues in their sports journey, encompassing not only social and cultural barriers within their society but also specific regulations enacted by global sports institutions. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the obstacles and challenges faced by Muslim women in international sports events.
Methodology: The research population comprises Iranian female athletes who have participated professionally in international competitions. A purposive sampling method was employed, and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants in Iran. Thematic analysis was applied to analyze the data.
Findings; According to the analyizing of research data, 17 organizing themes and 3 main themes or overarching themes were extracted from the interviews conducted. The three main themes that were obtained are as follows: Internal obstacles (individual and cultural-social factors), external obstacles (legal mechanisms and regulations of international communities), and the role model of Muslim female athletes.
Conclusion: Conclusion: The studies conducted show that international sports rules have had an impact on Muslim women's sports in Iran. However, the existence of gender discrimination and traditional beliefs about femininity and the role of women becomes a challenge to their presence in sports events, which requires the efforts of all institutions and stakeholders, including governments, sports organizations, media and civil society groups.
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