From Gender Stereotypes to Participation of Iranian Women in Sports

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Candidate of Shahrood University of Technology ,Shahrood, Iran

2 sports management Departement, Physical Education Faculty, Shahrood university of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

3 Associate Professor of Guilan University, Guilan, Iran

4 sport management department, physical education faculty, Shahrood university of technology, Shahrood, Iran

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the role of gender stereotypes in women's participation in sports. The present study was conducted with a qualitative, constructivist approach, serving its purpose. The participants in this study were 15 Iranian women and girls aged 15 to 55 who participated in sports recreationally or professionally and were selected as the final sample using a theoretical and purposive sampling method. Based on the results of the interviews, the focused codes extracted from the initial codes, which are presented in the form of theoretical codes of gender stereotypes in this study, include negative views of families towards girls' sports, social and cultural norms governing in sports, male dominance in some sports, breaking taboos in sports, dominant forces in sports, distrust of female athletes, and common stereotypes in sports that were identified. Therefore, changing social and cultural norms, educating and informing families through increased media coverage of women's sports, and role modeling will reduce gender stereotypes in sports and create conditions where women and girls can engage in sports without cultural and social restrictions.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of New Studies in Sport Management
Volume 7, Issue 1
March 2026
Pages 1-16

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