DAMMAM — Saudis still remember very vividly the fall of Wijdan Shahrkhani, a female judo player, during the London Olympics of 2012. Though her fall meant her certain defeat, she was not worried about losing the competition. All she was concerned about was that her Hijab (head cover) did not fall off so that millions of viewers would see her hair. It was a dramatic scene for a sportswoman who was keen to achieve recognition for herself and her country. What made the scene more dramatic, however, was her insistence to preserve the true image of Saudi women when she focused only on protecting her hair from being seen by others. Many Saudi men were surprised to see Saudi women competing in world sports. At the same time, they were worried about the image these women might give in an international sports competition, especially as the Games were transmitted live to the entire world. Saudi men are usually skeptical when they come to know about women practicing sports. They will ask: How do these women look? Where do they practice sports? How will others look at them? These questions are often asked by the fathers, brothers, husbands and sons. A research study, recently published by the Dammam-based Alsharq newspaper, said social norms were preventing Saudi women from openly practicing sports. The study was conducted by Mariam Dujain Al-Kaabi, a Saudi female sociologist, as part of her thesis for a master's degree. The study said women sports in the Kingdom is a pressing need on one hand, and a social disgrace on the other. The thesis came out with 24 recommendations to make women sports in the Kingdom a reality that is socially acceptable. Seven of these recommendations were directed to society and its institutions, 10 to the Ministry of Education and seven to the Presidency of Youth Welfare. Al-Kaabi said through these recommendations, a positive picture about women sports in the Kingdom could be conjured wherein Saudi women could obtain this natural right without causing any negative social setbacks. The study covered 312 Saudis working in the field of education, of whom 52.3 percent were male and the rest female. About 73.5 percent of the surveyed people fully supported women sports while 20.6 percent of them said yes to women sports to a certain extent only. This means that about 94 percent of the surveyed Saudi men and women in general have expressed support for women playing sports. The study said close to 50 percent of the surveyed men occasionally practice sports, while 35.2 percent do it regularly three days a week and only about 8 percent of the women have a go at it at all. Al-Kaabi believes that some norms and traditions in society are hindering women from practicing sports and said some men view women sports as an alien culture, which is against the nature of women. According to the study, 94.4 percent of the surveyed people have stressed the importance of sports for women, against 4.9 percent who did not see any significance for women sports. The study said expensive sportswear is another reason why a number of female students are being cut off from sports. Al-Kaabi said women will be encouraged to practice sports when the government establishes special sports clubs for them and provides them with transport. Recommendations to society
* Conducting further studies on cultural and social factors against women sports in the Kingdom, while spreading awareness among Saudi women about the usefulness of sports. * Reducing the number of women sports centers in private hospitals because they are after financial gains rather than providing good services. * Host Saudi women champions on television to talk about their sports achievements. * Establishing protected sports facilities for women in public parks and beaches. * Initiating physical education departments in girls colleges and universities. * Big companies should cooperate with concerned government sectors to provide financial support for women sports. * Intensifying awareness about the importance of sports for women.
Recommendations to the Ministry of Education
* Introducing sports classes in all government girls' schools. * Providing playgrounds for students inside girls' schools. * Including physical education as a compulsory subject in the curricula of all educational stages. * Approving sports activities outside regular classes. * Providing a budget for sports activities in girls' schools. * Preparing girls' schools to be safe havens for students and other women to practice sports as an after-school activity, with the provision of special female sport supervisors. * Attracting Saudi women teachers to teach physical education in girls' schools. * Establishing women sports clubs. * Cooperating with the Health Ministry to spread awareness on the importance of sports for maintaining general health. * Promoting the educational values of sports.
Recommendations to the Presidency of Youth Welfare
* Opening female sections in all the presidency's offices all over the Kingdom. * Benefiting from the experiences of the neighboring countries in supporting women's role in sports. Designating some of the existing sports facilities for women until exclusive clubs are built for them. * Establishing sports clubs especially for Saudi women. * Supporting women sports clubs with national female cadres. * Providing integrated playgrounds for women at nominal prices. * Enabling Saudi sports women to compete in international events.
The study covered 312 Saudis working in the field of education of whom 52.3 percent were male and the rest female. About 73.5 percent of the surveyed people fully supported women sports while 20.6 percent said yes to women sports to a certain extent only. This means that about 94 percent of the surveyed Saudi men and women in general have expressed support for women playing sports.
