Michael Kirby on Stereotypes and Sports

The former High Court judge Michael Kirby feels most comfortable in a suit and tie when he's out and about. He was therefore not too happy with the way he was treated at the hip TED (Technology, Education and Design) conference in Redfern. Speaking at the fifth conference of the International Working Group on Women and Sport at Olympic Park yesterday, Kirby (who also spoke witheringly of Channel Seven's ''pathetic and disgraceful'' treatment of David Campbell) got on to the subject of conquering stereotypes and gave his experience at TED the day before as an example of what he wanted to see abolished. He said of the TED concept: ''It's a very American idea that you've got to have these very intense young people who get together and they talk, but you are only allowed to talk for 15 minutes - which, of course, for a lawyer is an extremely difficult thing, to only speak for 15 minutes. I turned up dressed, as I've always dressed, in a suit and a tie. And they told me, 'You're not supposed to do that', and they said, 'This is breaching all the rules of TED', and they reprimanded me at the end of my speech, so I said, 'I'll bloody well turn up in whatever dress I like and we must end stereotypes'. This is one of the challenges [that] has to be faced in the area of women's sport, that is, stereotypes.'' Recent controversy in women's football over Muslim women wearing head scarves reminded sporting authorities that they needed to be respectful of the cultural needs of female Muslim athletes, Kirby said.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/national/the-diary/kirby-a-tad-upset-by-ted-20100523-w439.html

Muslim Women and Physical Education in Initial Teacher Training

Abstract:

Although under-researched, there is some evidence to suggest that Muslim females can experience difficulties with traditional approaches to physical education. Based infigurational theory, this field study investigation enabled the author/researcher to examine the relational dynamics influencing institutional and physical education course developments as female Muslim students underwent a 4-year primary Initial Teacher Training Degree course at 'Greenacres' College, England. Interview, observation and diary data were collected, analysed and collated. Findings indicated a gradual unforeseen and unplanned process of negotiated accommodation as the management and staff responded to the expressed needs of the Muslim women whilst ensuring State requirements for teacher training were met. One outcome was a reciprocal shift, in attitude towards physical education amongst the Muslim students

Citation:

TY - JOUR
JO - Sport, Education and Society
PB - Routledge
AU - Benn, Tansin
TI - Muslim Women and Physical Education in Initial Teacher Training
SN - 1357-3322
PY - 1996
VL - 1
IS - 1
SP - 5
EP - 21

Available: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content?file.txt

Woman and girls, let’s move: International Conference

27- 28 November , 2010

Tehran, Iran

The Sport Organization of the Municipality of Tehran invites all members of the sport community to participate in an international conference which is conducted as a joint venture of the International Association of Physical Education and Sport of Girls and Women (IAPESGW) and the city of Tehran. The conference aims at an exchange of knowledge and an increase of co-operation in the area of sport sciences and physical education.

About the conference: There is abundant evidence, that sport and physical exercises have a positive impact on health, well being and social relations. However, it is very difficult to motivate people to participate in recreational activities, in particular in large cities, where the environment and/or the lack of facilities do not encourage sports and fitness activities. Whereas boys and young men can find opportunities to play football or other sports, the majority of women and girls do not participate in physical exercises and sports.

The aim of the conference is to share experiences, information and scientific knowledge about the “movement culture” of girls and women: Their opinions and attitudes towards sport (for all), their motivations and barriers, their experiences and practices will be explored. Important topics of the conference are also the reasons for sport participation and inactivity as well as the strategies and measures to encourage an active life style among the population in large cities. Here physical education plays a large role. Therefore the quality of PE, in particular for girls, will be a focus on this event.

One day before the conference, an IAPESGW workshop with the same topic will take place where IAPESGW members and Iranian experts exchange knowledge and expertise.

The result of this workshop will be presented at the conference.

Key notes: IAPESGW is supporting developments in Iran and the event that is inviting the following guest contributors (see website under New Executive Board for details www.iapesgw.org

Professor Gertrud Pfister - Committee of consultants (Denmark)
Janice Crosswhite - Vice president (Australia)
Professor Rosa Lopez de D'Amico - Vice president (Venezuela)
Professor Maryam Koushkie Jahromi - Executive Board (Iran)

Reports about the results of the Workshop “Woman and girls , let’s move”, organised by IAPESGW and the Municipality of Tehran

Topics – as suggestions:

· Sport Activities – opportunities and challenges for women and men

· Sport (for all) in large cities – facilities and programs

· Cities and their spaces for physical activities

· How to activate the population and how to organise sport for all in cities

· International Cooperation in the Field of Physical Education and Sport Sciences

· Quality in School Sport

· PE and Sport Sciences: A Potential for Co-operation

· Sport Activities and Cultural Diversity

· New Trends in Sport Sciences

· Open papers

Please feel free to send in abstracts on other topics, we offer an open paper section.

Deadline dates

Scholars and experts are invited to participate in the conference and in the discussion.

Those who would like to give a paper have to send an abstract

Deadline for submission of abstract: 30^th October 2010

Notification of acceptance: November 5^th

Deadline for registration and hotel booking: November 12^th

Deadline for submitting the visa: November 18^th

Arrival and registration: November 26^th

Workshop Conference days – 27^th , 28^th November

Departure 29^th - 30^th November

Abstracts may not exceed 3000 characters (including spaces, title, authors and institutions).

Submit by email to Iman Mohktari - cityandsport@yahoo.com

Registration

There will be no conference fee, but registration is necessary. Deadline for registration is November

Practical Information

Conference Fee

There is no registration fee .

The participants have to pay for their accommodation and dinner.

Lunches, tea and coffee breaks during the conference are free .

Conference hotel

Olympic Hotel, Tehran, Iran

You can book your room via the website of the hotel (alternative booking site)

Flights

There are direct flights to Tehran (IKA) from any airport around the world.

Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA ) is located 50 kilometers (30 – 45 mi) south of the city.

Weather

October is autumn in Tehran and the weather is moderate, Temperatures range between 7 and 27 °C.

More information on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran and http://en.tehran.ir/

Languages

The languages used in papers, discussions and presentations are English and Farsi.

Tehran International Phone Code : +98 21

Currency: Iranian Rial IRR 10005= US$ 1

There is limited international credit card service, please bring money ( US $ or Euro ) in cash .

Visa Requirements

The Conference organizers invite established scholars, researchers, practitioners and students from all countries. Delegates from some countries might require visas to enter Iran. The conference organizers will assist you with obtaining visas and can provide letters to Iranian diplomatic missions.

Others may get visas at the airport, but they have to send copies of their passports till November 18^th

Dress code

Please respect the Islamic dress code in Iran.

Participating and Supporting Organizations:

• Sport Organization , Municipality Of Tehran , Iran

• International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women (IAPESGW)

v Organizing Committee

v Dr. I. Mokhtari

v Dr. V. Mousavi

v Mrs. M. Karimi

v Scientific Committee

v (alphabetically arranged)

v Dr. Iman Mokhtari Iran

v Prof. Gertrud Pfister Denmark

v Janice Crosswhite Australia

v Dr. Maryam Koushki Iran

v Prof. Rosa Lopez de D’Amico Venezuela

v Dr. V. Mousavi Iran

Mohammed Hajaghamir : Manager , Sport Organization (Iran)

Mitra Karima Dastjerdi :Deputy , Sport Organization (Iran)

For additional information

Please contact: Iman Mohktari

email : cityandsport@yahoo.com

Event information September 2010

Nawal El Moutawakel on Education of Women and Girls

LAURA WALDEN / Sports Features Communications

TAMPA/NEW YORK, Sept 22: IOC Executive Board member Nawal El Moutawakel was speaking out at the UN Millennium Development Goals Summit being held in New York to support of education for women.

The Olympian is also a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador and has dealt with many of her own trying experiences growing up in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s in Morocco. El Moutawakel is also the first Muslim woman to win an Olympic gold medal on the 400 meter hurdles and has even served her country as Minister of Sports.

Speaking to the UN News center today she said: “I personally lived these difficulties… access to education, women’s empowerment, environmental protection, improvement in health. I had experiences in all these fields linked to my personal life, to that of my country.”

“An educated woman is an educated family and an educated country since women represent more than half the population in most countries today. When women have no access to education all other (MDG) efforts are doomed to fail.

“Access to primary education is vital since it has a run-on impact on all other MDGs, it even determines the success and survival of some, like women’s empowerment.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon held a roundtable discussion with other IOC Members Prince Albert of Monaco and Hungarian President Pal Schmitt to discuss the important value of sport working closely with the UN to strive to attain the MDG goals for 2015.

Source: http://www.sportsfeatures.com/olympicsnews/story/47463/iocun-education-for-women-and-girls-crucial-for-mdg-efforts

A Culture of Trust: Engaging Muslim Women in Community Sport Organizations

Authors: Hazel Maxwell^a; Tracy Taylor^a

^{Published in: European Sport Management Quarterly, Volume 10, Issue 4 September 2010 , pages 465 - 483}

Abstract This article examines the impetus for, and process of, engaging Muslim women in community sport. The research focuses on how and why a community sport organization, located in a large Australian city, embraced cultural change and developed a more inclusive community sport environment through social capital facilitation. The operation of the three types of social capital (bonding, bridging and linking) is considered alongside social capital attributes (networks, trust, reciprocity, volunteering and community building). The theoretical framework employed is derived from Lin's framework of social capital. The research findings are analysed through an examination of the stages of investment, development, mobilization and reproduction of social capital. This research illustrates the potential for the development of trust, cooperation and community networks, leading to cultural awareness, and changes to the cultural profile and practices of community sport organizations. Source: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a926590745~tab=content~order=page

The Perspective of Arabic Muslim Women toward Sport Participation

Maesam-T-AbdulRazak, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Mohd Sofian, Omar-Fauzee, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Rozita Abd-Latif, Universiti Teknologi MARA

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine perspective of Arabic Muslim women toward the involvement in sport and physical activity. A sample of 15 Arabic Muslim women (age between 14 to 30 years old) who sojourn in Malaysia (i.e., studying, visiting, or housewife) have agreed to participate in the interview. All of them have signed an informed consent letter to be tape recorded. The recorder interviews were transcript and content analysis processes were conducted to identify the answers given in the semi structured questionnaire. Result shows that the women in this study are strongly influenced by the processes of cultural maintenance and identify with their parent’s ethnic group. Twelve Arabic Muslim women from 15 belong to different Arabic countries answered on question 3 with negative aspect as an example of the women who positions themselves clearly within the framework of their ethnic identity. The participating for the young Arabic Muslim woman in sport is seen as a challenge to the boundaries of their ethnic identities.The young Arabic Muslim women who position themselves clearly within the framework of their ethnic identities are not interested in sport because doing sport is not seen as a respectable femininity. Perhaps, these Arabic Muslim women who challenge their ethnic identities by participating in sport have experienced being harassed because they participate in sport. Recommendations for future research were also suggested in this paper.

Journal of Asia Pacific Studies ( 2010) Vol 1, No 2, 364-377

Source: http://www.japss.org/upload/13.maesam.pdf

New Book On Shelves: "Muslim Women and Sport"

Edited by Tansin Benn, Gertrud Pfister, Haifaa Jawad.

• Binding/Format: Hardback
• ISBN: 978-0-415-49076-4
• Publish Date: July 9th 2010
• Imprint: Routledge
• Pages: 304 pages

Description:

Examining the global experiences, challenges and achievements of Muslim women participating in physical activities and sport, this important new study makes a profound contribution to our understanding of both contemporary Islam and the complexity and diversity of women’s lives in the modern world.

The book presents an overview of current research into constructs of gender, the role of religion and the importance of situation, and looks closely at what Islam has to say about women’s participation in sport and what Muslim women have to say about their participation in sport. It highlights the challenges and opportunities for women in sport in both Muslim and non-Muslim countries, utilising a series of extensive case-studies in various countries which invite the readers to conduct cross-cultural comparisons. Material on Iraq, Palestine and Bosnia and Herzegovina provides rare insights into the impact of war on sporting activities for women. The book also seeks to make important recommendations for improving access to sport for girls and women from Muslim communities.

Muslim Women and Sport confronts many deeply held stereotypes and crosses those commonly quoted boundaries between ‘Islam and the West’ and between ‘East and West’. It makes fascinating reading for anyone with an interest in the interrelationships between sport, religion, gender, culture and policy.

Contents:

Introduction - Muslim Women and Sport Part 1: Underlying Contexts 1. The Values of Physical Activity, Sport and Physical Education in the Lives of Young Women 2. Islam, Women and Sport 3. Muslim Women and Sport in Diasporas: Theories, Discourses and Practices - Analyzing the Case of Denmark Part 2: National Perspectives 4. Women in Sports Leadership in Bahrain 5. "Balancing between the cultures …" – Sports and Physical Activities of Muslim Girls and Women in Germany 6. Physical Activities and Sport for Women in Iran 7. The Sultanate of Oman and the Position of Girls and Women in Physical 8. Women and Sport in Syria 9. Struggling for Empowerment - Sport Participation of Women and Girls in Turkey Part Three: Case Studies 10. Palestinian Women’s National Football Team Aims High – Case Study to Explore the Interaction of Religion, Culture, Politics and Sports 11. Challenges Facing South African Muslim Secondary School Girls’ Participation in Physical Activities, Physical Education and Sport. 12. Religion and the State – The Story of a Turkish Elite Athlete 13. A Case Study on United Arab Emirates: Women, Disability and Sport Part Four: Narratives 14. Experiences of War in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Effects on Physical Activities of Girls and Women 15. Women in Sport in North Africa: Voices of Moroccan Athletes 16. Womens’ Narratives of Sport and War in Iraq Conclusion