Contemporary scenario of Muslim women and sport in the United Arab Emirates: Pathways to the vision 2021

Abstract

Historically, the global society has viewed females as naturally weak, powerless and dependent on males. False medical myths such as development of masculine and unfeminine bodies, harmful effects on the menstrual cycle and prejudice about women who participate in sport activities have been spread which have discouraged active participation of females in different parts of the world, especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries¹. In this paper, a Scenario Analysis methodology recommended by Spaniol and Rowland² was used; a process of analysing possible future events by considering alternative possible outcomes from the society. The UAE Vision 2021 was developed to make the nation among the best countries in the world by the Golden Jubilee of the union. This vision was utilised to provide references to the analysis and application of the methods CATWOE, PESTLE and SWOT; also used to complement the scenario description. The discussion revolved around the overall engagement of women representing the Muslim community in the sports sector with a heavy focus on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sporting scene. In addition, the outlook of the UAE government on women in sports and the various strategies and reforms adopted by the local government to promote women participation in sports was discussed. The conclusion reflects on the possibilities of a behavioural change in the contemporary local society which could lead to more opportunities for women in sports even after the imposition of barriers.

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