Jess Pham
Analysis Paper #8
Different cultures vary all over the world and the same could be said about religions. It
could not be truer when discussing Christian based countries and Muslim based countries. In a
predominantly Christian country such as the United States and the United Kingdom it is common
for women and girls to participate in sports especially at a young age. Countries in the eastern
hemisphere such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia have stricter views on women participating in
sports due to their Muslim beliefs.
Youth sports particularly at schools in Christian countries promote youth sports especially
within the education system. It is seen as a positive that physical education is being promoted
within the schools and teaching young people about the importance of exercise. Sports is also
able to provide so much more when it comes to life skills and this is seen as a huge incentive to
having sports be available to the youth. In Muslim countries these life skills that are promoted
through sports are not always seen as a positive the way that they are to Christian countries. The
reason for this is in a lot of ways sports promote western ways of thinking and this transition is
hard for traditional Muslim countries. This is especially true when discussing Muslim women in
sports “Muslim women's participation in sport has raised the questions of women's conditions
and the struggle over their bodies in Muslim communities” (Amara, 2008). The hijab plays a big
role in this western way of thinking as well. Traditionally Muslim women wear hijabs but in
sports this sometimes becomes difficult which is why sports isn’t seen as much of a necessity in
Muslim countries.
In predominantly Muslim based countries women are seen in the house hold and to focus
on their studies. The dress code for certain sports tend to be more risqué then what the women of
Muslim countries tend to wear. In soccer and basketball, you are showing your legs, arms and
sometimes even your shoulders and this is not the typical dress code for these women which
tends to offend the more traditional Muslim followers of the middle eastern countries. In the
United States this isn’t a factor and women are free to participate in whatever sport they please.
“Parents encourage their daughters to be dependent and obedient, whereas sons are allowed to be
more aggressive and independent because they are expected to cope with the outside world”
(Inal, 2011).
The international sports world such as the Olympics is a place where Muslim women in
particular, are seen in a positive light and are doing something positive. “For female athletes in
Muslim countries, the international sports arena has become a privileged space where they can
regain their status as full citizens and as role models” (Amara, 2008). This is completely different
than Christian based countries such as the U.S. where no matter if you are a male or female you
are celebrated for representing your country alone. The Muslim religion is stricter on what the
expectations of a women can and cannot do. A lot of these expectations are due to how a women
presents herself to the world especially when it comes to traditional Muslim beliefs and
expectations.
Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be
compassionate and humble. Of all things that God, the son, and the holy spirit teaches us the
most important of them is love and acceptance. He showed this by having his son walk the earth
and be empathetic to all people especially the ones that are less deserving of love. Because of
this I believe this is why Christian based countries such as the United States and the United
Kingdom are so excepting of all genders participating in sports. The Muslim culture differs in
this because women are seen to obey their husbands but not vise versa like Christianity.
References
Amara, M. (2008, Spring). The muslim world in the global sporting arena. The Brown Journal of
World Affairs, 14, 67-75. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?
url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/219494429?acc ountid=12085
Inal, H. S. (2011). Women's and girls' sports in turkey. Women in Sport & Physical Activity
Journal, 20(2), 76-85. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?
url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1020409090?ac countid=12085
