Women’s participation in sports in Pakistan is limited

Gender inequality is a deeply embedded problem in the social fabric of Pakistan, affecting the lives of women in various aspects, including sports.

Approximately 90% of women in the country face restrictions in access to sports and physical activity due to gender discrimination caused by social, economic, and political barriers. In addition, those ladies who decide to make their way into a sports career often face sexual harassment.

A researcher named Muhammad Adnan pointed out that the achievements of Pakistani female athletes are met with ridicule rather than approval in a predominantly male environment. “Female participation in sport has traditionally been limited due to cultural and social barriers, as well as lack of access to sporting facilities and opportunities,” he explained. He also noted that one of the key challenges for gender equality in sports in Pakistan is the lack of coverage of women’s sports in the mainstream media compared to men’s sports.

Squash athlete Norina Shams shared her experience of eight years of struggle for a sports career, noting that it is difficult for women without male support to gain recognition in such male dominance. Professor Miao Wang from Beijing University of Technology highlighted religious and cultural barriers as the main obstacles to Pakistani women’s participation in sports, also pointing to insufficient qualifications of physical education teachers, limited government funding, and the lack of physical education as an extracurricular activity.

Wan Said noted that female students in Pakistan face religious and cultural restrictions, lack of permission from parents, and lack of sports facilities and equipment as major barriers to participation in sports competitions. Narratives of Pakistani women athletes often include stories of lack of government and family support, lack of equipment and transportation, public humiliation, and security threats.

Football Without Borders stressed that women’s participation in sports in Pakistan continues to be viewed as unacceptable and even shameful. It has been noted that there are few teams or clubs for girls who want to participate in athletics, and they face enormous barriers to participation.

Researcher Zulaikha Karim from the University of Sindh has pointed out the existence of sexism at the organizational level affecting women in leadership positions in sports associations. “Women in sports and in leadership positions face issues of gender equality, as the sports industry is permeated by male standards,” she shared.

Sana Mahmood, a former captain of the women’s basketball and soccer teams, spoke about sexual remarks and harassment that female athletes face from the public. Shams also shared her experience of demands for sexual favors from officials of sports organizations. Sports commentator Lina Aziz said women in sports and sports broadcasting were being harassed and any complaints could lead to the end of their careers, criticizing the government for failing to protect women in sports.

Aisha Gul, a researcher from the University of Balochistan in Quetta, emphasized that sports in Pakistan is still a male domain and the influence of patriarchy is hampering the development of female athletes in the country. “The role of women is not taken into account in policy development and decision-making, making the future of women athletes in Pakistan extremely uncertain,” she concluded.