Degree

BS (Social Sciences & Liberal Arts)

Faculty / School

School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS)

Department

Department of Social Sciences & Liberal Arts

Date of Award

Spring 2024

Date of Submission

2024-09-13

Advisor

Dr. Saima Bint-E-Saif, Assistant Professor, Department of SSLA

Project Type

SSLA Culminating Experience

Access Type

Restricted Access

Keywords

Female athletes, Obstacles, Involvement

Abstract

This qualitative research explored the obstacles hindering female athletes' involvement in basketball in Karachi, Pakistan, with a particular focus on gender-based, religious, economic, and infrastructural barriers. The study aimed to understand how these factors impact women's participation in sports, especially in a society where traditional norms often conflict with aspirations for gender equality.

The research utilized semi-structured interviews and the sample consisted of 8 female basketball athletes recruited via a Google Form sent to the heads of the Pakistan Basketball federation and the league of Basketball.

The interview included various questions like the experiences of female basketball athletes and how their gender may act as a barrier within this spot. It also included questions about the availability of sports facilities, and the constraints imposed by family, and cultural norms within Karachi. They also discussed religious and economic limitations that hinder their ability to participate in the sport. The study sought to gain a deeper understanding of how these challenges affect their sports engagement and to gather recommendations from the athletes on overcoming these barriers.

The study's findings highlight that gender-related obstacles and the lack of proper sports facilities are the most significant barriers female basketball players in Karachi face. Participants frequently cited societal expectations, gender discrimination, and inadequate infrastructure as critical factors limiting their involvement in the sport. In contrast, religious constraints and economic challenges, while present, were not as prominently hindering. These findings suggest that while cultural and structural issues are the primary obstacles, religion and economic factors play a lesser, though still relevant, role in shaping the experiences of female athletes.

Pages

1-5,99

Download

The full text of this document is only accessible to authorized users.

Share

COinS