Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC 4.0) license
Authors
1 PhD Student in Sport Management, Department of Sport Sciences, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran
2 Associate Professor of Sport Management, Department of Sport Sciences, Jahrom University, Jahrom, Iran
3 Assistnat Professor in Sport Management, Department of Sport Sciences, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran
Abstract
Objective: Many female athletes at some point feel that they have to make difficult decisions between Motherhood and continuing their sports career. Considering the growing trend of women's participation in championship sports and the simultaneous maternal expectations from them, this article examined the challenges and facilitators of the motherhood process in Iranian sports.
Methodology: This research was conducted based on a qualitative approach and using thematic analysis. Participants included female athletes and experts in the field, with whom 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data analysis was conducted in three stages of open, axial, and selective coding.
Results: Data analysis led to the identification of 104 basic themes. Also, overarching themes including legalism, lifestyle, protectionism, Risk-taking, maternal biology, Financial capability, common discourses, multiple identities, and value were identified, which were divided into three sections: before, during, and after pregnancy.
Conclusion: It seems that policies and governance in women's sports should be proportionate to the four dimensions of context, opportunity, expectations and actions from the perspective of Iranian female athletes in the three stages before, during and after pregnancy. The interpretation of actions should be proportionate to the characteristics of the athlete, the structure of women's sports and clubs. In this regard, in addition to efforts to improve the cultural situation of athletes' motherhood, it is necessary to support and educate women, clubs and society in all three stages.
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