Victoria Phillips
11/18/10
11:10 pm
Saudi Arabia is one of the only three countries in the world that still do not allow women to represent it in international athletic competitions. Physical activity is looked at as inappropriate, even immoral in some regions, for Saudi Arabian women. The government-controlled girls’ school completely forbids students to participate in physical activity. Bigger cities do have female-only gyms, but almost all of them are unmarked so those who enter aren’t ridiculed. In August, Saudi equestrian Dalma Malhas, 18, was the first woman allowed to participate in an international athletic competition on Saudi Arabia’s behalf. Immediately, she caught huge attention from media all over the world, but especially after she won a bronze medal for her performance. In a local newspaper poll, only four percent of Saudi citizens were opposed to gyms for women and girls. Due to the absolute monarchy government, majority opinion does not matter. Some clerics support women participation is sports, while “others argue that sports [should be] absolutely off limits for virgins, who could become unmarriageable if they were to damage their hymens through athletic activity.”
This is more than just an issue of women’s rights. It is also an issue in public health. Without physical activity, women will slowly become sick and obese. This could result in women dying at younger ages or dying from preventable diseases. However, many countries have went through this same issue not too long ago. Up until about three decades ago, US women weren’t allowed to vote. Saudi Arabia is a much younger country than the US. Therefore, these dramatic changes will take time, but they are not impossible.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/sports/18SAUDISPORTS.html?pagewanted=2&%2339;s rights&sq=women&st=cse&scp=2
4 comments:
Have you ever seen the movie "Bend it Like Beckham"? I thought it was pretty ridiculous how her parents wouldn't let her play in a soccer league. I didn't think this was a real issue in countries around the world.
I watched a documentary once on the people that are oppressed by the Saudi government. Single men were not allowed to enter a mall unless he was with his family (parents or a wife) this was to prevent young single men and women from meeting. Also networking sites were illegal, especially online dating. Saudi Arabia has so many restrictions, I believe it will still be quite some time until they have fewer restrictions.
I had no idea issues like this relating to sports still existed. I found this article extemely interesting however it angers me to know that something as simple as going to a gym is still something women are fighting for. And how ridiculous that virgins can not play sports.
This is ridiculous. I didn't think things like this happen in 'real life'. It's so unfortunate.
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