SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF WOMENIN SPORTACTIVITIES: THE CASE OFAMIRENUREWOREDA, HARARI REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

Nowadays women’s active involvement in sport is seen declining. Among others, (one of the reasons for this is that it has been considered only men’s activity) It is in light of this fact that the study was carried out to examine socio-cultural factors affecting women’s active involvement in sports activities in Amir-nur woreda, Harari Regional state. The populations of the study were all parents who have daughter/s aged above 15 years old in the study area. The study utilized both qualitative and quantitative research approach and cross sectional research design. The study employed purposive sampling techniques to select the FGD participants, while random sampling technique was used to select the survey respondents. A structured and semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 334 parents among the total sample size of 377 households and FGDs were conducted by using an unstructured guide. Thus, the findings show that parents’ economic problem, parents’s lack ofexperience in sport involvements, and inaccessibility of sport field, illiterate parent, and parentss’ fearof sexual harassment and abuse, parent gender stereotypes and cultural beliefs are potential factors determining the level and active involvement of women in sports. In view of this, it was recommended that parents and the larger society should show supportfor women participation in sport training and tournamentsand positive attitudes towards women involvement in sports. Also,regional government at all levels should create enabling environment, and mass media should organize enlightenment programs that will mitigate the socio-cultural factors hindering women’s involvement in sports.