Following the Taliban regaining control of Afghanistan, it was recently announced that the group would also reinstate the ban of women playing sport in the country.
The Taliban claimed that because cricket (and other sports) may cause women to uncover their body, the ban of sport will come into effect. Cricket Australia has announced that they will not allow Afghanistan’s male team to play in Australia as long as the women’s team is banned by the Taliban government.
The denial of women’s sports in Afghanistan poses the question of the government’s plans to further oppress women in the country. The Taliban have promised a more inclusive government than when they held power from 1996-2001, but the banning of women’s sport directly disputes this.
An article by Fullagar and colleagues points out that introducing feminist presence in physical culture introduces a challenge to traditional duelist way of thought. Women’s sport challenges gender roles by showing that women are capable of physicality, strength, and competition. When women are denied sport and physical culture, it reinforces traditional gender roles and allows a power dynamic between men and women.
Since 2001, women’s rights in Afghanistan have been steadily progressing. Unfortunately, it seems that with the new Taliban government, at least some this progression will be undone. Though discussion will reportedly be done on what sports may be allowed for women, the future for female athletes in Afghanistan is currently looking grim.
RebeccaR
Sport, Not Games ⚽ 