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Vol.1 Issue 24, October 2020
ELITE

Women and Sports in Egypt

(Discussion Report)
Cairo: Caroline Sherief, Farah Haitham, Hania Bahaa, Rana
woman's body itself and that it possesses the flexibility required in
Doss, Salma Bayoumi and Marc Nabil
practicing those Sports, this what makes those sports to be
predominantly female, but this does not prevent men from practicing
In light of the honorable Egyptian female sports models who represent
such sports.
a source of pride for every Egyptian, and with the return of sporting
activity, the elite newspaper team discussed the issue of women
Then we turned to the conversation about the effect of sport on
practicing sports in Egypt. Random samples of students were taken
women in particular and whether this effect is positive or negative.
from the various faculties at Cairo University, such as the Faculty of
They all agreed that practicing sports had a positive effect on
Economics and Political Science, Commerce, Arts, Engineering,
women, whether on a women ’s physical health, as it gives her
Dentistry, and Law. Also, the representation of males and females has
strength and enhances her physical fitness and has a positive effect
been taken into account to present the different views and ideas, those
as well in her mental health as It reduces psychological stress,
interviews where held via Zoom.
depression, and other problems that face women in her daily life,
also sports helps her to enhances her self-confidence and becomes a
It was important to know whether they are following women's sports
charismatic, leadership figure.
or had they previously followed it, so this was the first question that
was asked to the students, so according to this question, the students
Women face many challenges in their various stages of life, so we
were divided into two sections. The first section was following
asked the students about the challenges that women face as a result
women's sports such as Water Ballet, Roller Skating, Tennis,
of practicing sport. Some students pointed out that according to our
Gymnastics, Strength Games, Women Football, and other sports while
traditions and the society looks some sports customs do not fit in our
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the other section had never followed women's sports or was not traditions like swimming and gymnastics, Which the society may
interested in knowing sports news in general. find contrary and force many women to quit sports at a young age.
When there was a demand from most students who are following
Others referred to the society ’s view of the woman herself and that
women's sports, it was necessary to know who is the female athlete
her responsibility is confined to the home. The athletic woman in our
that each student see her unique in sports activities, so they referred to
society is little supported and encouraged as well. Society has
many honorable Egyptian models such as Farida Othman, Raneem El-
always restricted her in a specific form that should not be departed
Waily, Nour El-Sherbiny and praised their persistence, eagerness, and
from, and sports in the view of some contradict to this form.
pursuit of excellence and they take them as role models, while some
others did not go deep into watching women's sports to determine who
Some people find a tendency to compare any phenomenon within
are the unique and successful female athlete in sports activities.
our Egyptian society and European societies or the West in general.
Therefore, we asked the students a question to find out whether there
Doing sports is a matter of whether you are male or female, so we
is a difference between the athletic woman in Egypt and European
intend to ask the students about practicing sports, do they practice
countries. Some say that the difference is in the financial or
sports, or are they content with watching and encouraging? All the
psychological support that women receive and that pushes them to
students who were interviewed had already practiced sports, whether
continue practicing in European countries, also they begin practicing
as a child or currently practicing sports as a means of entertainment
sports from a very early age in contrast in Egyptian society woman
and not professionalism such as swimming, tennis, gymnastics,
does not receive this support except in some few cases, and if she
Strength games, combat games such as kung fu and karate in addition
gets it, she is exposed to many criticisms from some groups in
to water ballet and other sports, whether individual or team.
society and underestimates her capabilities.
When the students were asked about whether there are specific sports
that are predominantly female, then one team answered with “No ” as
The students were from different colleges, backgrounds, and
they see that all sports can be practiced, whether you are male or
cultures, whether they differed on some points or agreed in others,
female, the issue is related to a person ’s passion and his attraction to
there was always a reference to society and its view in one form or
that sport, not gender, while the other team said “YES ” there are sports
another as a determinant of everything and the source of difference,
that are predominantly male, such as the Football and also there are
whether this difference was positive or negative, it may be
predominantly female sports, such as water ballet and rhythmic
motivation, conservative or It may be inhibiting and frustrating, so it
gymnastics, they pointed to some reasons due to this phenomenon
is up to the woman herself to either choose her path and pursue her
where some refer to the customs and traditions of society and others
path and continue without looking at the bad side or to give up her
said that the belief of males themselves that this is inconsistent with
ambition and give up.
their nature, and some others refer the reason to the nature of the
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Vol.1 Issue 24, October 2020