Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Assistant Professor of Sport Management in Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2
MSc in Sport Management, Jounoob Tehran Payame Noor, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Background and Purpose
Over the past two decades, the participation of Muslim women in sports has increasingly attracted scholarly attention across both Islamic and Western societies. Muslim female athletes have come to symbolize success and progress within the international sports arena, yet they have faced various restrictions and challenges over time. The marginalization and discrimination against women in sports—particularly Muslim women—stem from a complex interplay of social and cultural attitudes prevalent among the general public, entrenched traditions, religious beliefs, modes of popular communication, and broader social issues. Additionally, family responsibilities such as parenting and childcare impose further constraints on their involvement in sports. In many Muslim-majority countries, the presence of female athletes remains a contentious issue, often debated by religious authorities. Consequently, the representation of Muslim women in the Olympics and other international competitions remains limited, with participation opportunities heavily influenced by the cultural and religious foundations of their respective countries.
Methods
This applied research employed a mixed-methods design and was conducted in a field setting to comprehensively explore the barriers faced by Muslim women in international sports participation. The qualitative component targeted experts in women’s sports, including researchers, coaches, and specialists. Purposeful sampling was utilized, and the sample size was determined by the principle of theoretical saturation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a combination of predetermined and follow-up questions. Theoretical saturation was achieved after seventeen interviews; however, to enhance validity and ensure comprehensive coverage of all relevant themes, interviews continued until nineteen participants were included. The reliability of the interview process was confirmed through a survey involving ten sports management experts, and inter-coder agreement was employed to assess the consistency of the interview coding protocol.
The quantitative phase involved a two-stage Delphi method and a structured questionnaire consisting of 51 items across six dimensions: political, social, economic, technological, legal, and environmental. The statistical population for this phase mirrored that of the qualitative study. The questionnaire’s validity was affirmed by sports management specialists, and its reliability was supported by a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.72. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.
Results
The demographic profile of the research participants revealed that the majority (68.5%) were aged between 36 and 40 years. Educationally, 80% held degrees in sports science, while 20% had qualifications in other fields. Regarding academic attainment, 63.1% possessed a master’s degree, and 36.9% held doctoral degrees. Professionally, 26.2% identified as experts, 42.1% as researchers, and 31.7% as coaches specializing in women’s sports. Most participants (73.6%) reported having between 11 and 15 years of experience in the field.
Analysis of the data identified the foremost barriers to Muslim women’s participation in international sports. The lack of financial sponsorship emerged as the highest priority, with a mean score of 4.8. This was closely followed by lower wages for female athletes (mean 4.7) and inadequate legal support for sending women’s teams to competitions (mean 4.6). These findings underscore persistent structural inequalities in funding, remuneration, and legislative backing that disproportionately affect women’s sports, particularly within Muslim contexts.
Conclusion
The present study aimed to elucidate the multifaceted barriers hindering Muslim women’s participation in international sporting arenas through a comprehensive mixed-methods approach. The findings consistently highlight financial support as the most critical impediment, corroborating recent studies such as Hassan et al. (2024). Existing literature further reveals that corporate sponsorship predominantly favors men’s sports, as documented by Jenson and Smith (2024), while Cooke et al. (2021) emphasize the overwhelming dominance of men’s sports in media coverage. Media exposure plays a pivotal role in attracting sponsorship; insufficient coverage of women’s sports diminishes public awareness and consequently reduces sponsors’ willingness to invest. In particular, the scarcity of television broadcasts dedicated to women’s sports results in lower viewership and further disincentivizes corporate investment.
The lack of financial and media support may also adversely affect women’s motivation to engage in sports, with potential negative repercussions on their physical and mental well-being. Another significant challenge identified is the shortage of adequate sports facilities and training venues for women. Such infrastructural deficits not only compromise the quality of sports development but also hinder sponsors from realizing their economic objectives, thereby perpetuating a cycle of underinvestment.
Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted strategy. Enhancing media coverage of women’s sports competitions can increase visibility and attract sponsorship. Additionally, policy measures such as tax incentives or other financial benefits for companies that support women’s sports could stimulate greater investment.
This study’s limitations include a relatively small sample size, reflective of the nascent stage of women’s sports development in many Muslim countries. Future research should undertake comparative analyses of female athletes’ status across different Muslim-majority nations to identify best practices and inform effective policy interventions.
Keywords: Women, Sponsors, Media, Muslim, Success.
Article Message
One of the major challenges facing female athletes is overcoming traditional gender roles and social expectations. Given the need for our society to have self-confidence and a sense of trust in its women's abilities, the successes of women's sports occupy a special place. Women's success in international sports arenas is one of the most important factors in neutralizing false propaganda and correcting the world's view of the status of Muslim women. Women, along with men, can raise the flag of Islamic Iran in the international arena and be a source of pride by maintaining the Islamic hijab, and this can play an important role in increasing government and national support and attracting private investors to women's sports.
Ethical Considerations
All ethical principles have been observed in conducting this research
Authors’ Contributions
Mohammad Siavashi (idea generation, administrative correspondence, statistical analysis of interviews and questionnaires in software, extraction of results and final editing and submission of the article).
Mina Parhamzadeh (data collection, background research and review of previous articles and sources, article writing, review and editing).
Conflict of Interest
The authors of the article have no conflicts of interest regarding this research
Acknowledgments
We hereby express our appreciation and gratitude to all those who helped us in conducting this research
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