Islam, Women, and Sports in Sub-Saharan Africa

1. Islam, Women, and Sports in Sub-Saharan Africa Martha Saavedra Center for African Studies, UC Berkeley October 2006

2. Q: “Islam’s impact on women’s sport?” • ‘Islam’ is not an obstacle to the participation of women in sport. • Islam can shape the sporting experience of people as gendered subjects. • Impact varies widely, depending on • Interpretation • Practice • Politicization by individuals, organizations & states

3. Outline • Three issues • Clarifying Question • Elements involved? • Transnational and global nature of contemporary sport • Theology and Practice • Islam and Sport • Abuja 2003 Continued…

4. Outline -continued • Examples from • Senegal • Sudan • Nigeria • Zanzibar and South Africa

5. Clarifying the Question:Intersections? Islam Gender Sport

6. Clarifying the Question:Intersections? Islam Gender Sport Emphasis on lived experience, not on theological understandings Need for spatial and historical grounding anticipating variation across space and time Generalizations - tentative

7. Clarifying the Question:Elements? Islam Gender Sport Distinguish influence of Islam from other factors – educational opportunities general availability of facilities living standards leisure time, etc

8. Clarifying the Question:Elements? Islam Gender Sport Distinguish influence of Islam from other factors – effect of colonialism different colonial practices & institutions traditions & customs varied & mutable

9. Clarifying the Question:Elements? Islam Gender Sport Distinguish influence of Islam from other factors – Political Economy Debt burdens Declining terms of trade Dependency Structural Adjustment Poverty

10. Clarifying the Question:Elements? Islam Gender Sport Not interchangeable with “women,” even if women are main concern Ask question carefully - “Does a particular articulation of Islam prevent females from pursuing sport in ways that do not prevent men from pursuing sport?”

11. Clarifying the Question:Elements? Islam Gender Sport Address gender more broadly for increased understanding – “How does nexus of sport and Islam shapes masculinity?” can lend insight into how sport shapes femininity.

12. Nature of Sport itself • Implicated in fabric of political and social life. • Definition: • competitive physical activity guided by rules • with some reference to an institutional framework

13. Nature of Sport in Africa • Most organized sport influenced or structured by Western practice.

14. Nature of Sport in Africa • Most organized sport influenced or structured by Western practice. • Hence, carries historical and cultural baggage.

15. Nature of Sport in Africa • Most organized sport influenced or structured by Western practice. • Hence, carries historical and cultural baggage. • Weberian rationalization (Guttman 1978)

16. Nature of Sport in Africa • Most organized sport influenced or structured by Western practice. • Hence, carries historical and cultural baggage. • Weberian rationalization (Guttman 1978) • Particular Western values – • Democratic equality • Corporate capitalist exploitation

17. Nature of Sport in Africa • More Western baggage • Gendered systems of sport • Hegemonic heterosexual hyper-masculinity

18. Nature of Sport in Africa • More Western baggage • Gendered systems of sport • Hegemonic heterosexual hyper-masculinity • Posited against any homosexual visibility

19. Nature of Sport in Africa • More Western baggage • Gendered systems of sport • Hegemonic heterosexual hyper-masculinity • Posited against any homosexual visibility • Rules out muscular femininity • For binary and exclusive definition of sexuality

20. Nature of Sport in Africa • More Western baggage • Gendered systems of sport • Hegemonic heterosexual hyper-masculinity • Posited against any homosexual visibility • Rules out muscular femininity • In a binary and exclusive definition of sexuality • Women’s pursuit of sport • Always problematic • Challenge to hegemonic norms of sexuality

21. Nature of Sport in Africa • Sport, gender & Islam in Africa • Marked by Western trajectories • As much as by local practices of Islam • Which also have transnational influences

22. Nature of Sport in Africa • Interaction of local – global • Variable outcomes in African settings • Western outcomes not a teleological paradigm that is desirable or inevitable

23. Nature of Sport in Africa • Interaction of local – global • Variable outcomes in African settings • Western outcomes not a teleological paradigm that is desirable or inevitable • Yes, Western hegemony is formidible • But – local is also powerful • Can also influence global…

24. Nature of Sport in Africa • Multiple Trajectories!

25. Sport Body is Central Physical manipulation Physicality Mapped with forces Political Economic Social Cultural Psychological Spiritual Islam and Sport

26. Sport Body is Central Physical manipulation Physicality Mapped with forces Magnifies beliefs about physical possibilities Including, sexual difference Islam and Sport

27. Sport Body is Central Physical manipulation Physicality Mapped with forces Magnifies beliefs about physical possibilities Including, sexual difference Islam and Sport • Islam • Concern for body • Piety & Modesty • Health & Hygiene • Defensive preparation • Intellectual and moral education

28. Sport Body is Central Physical manipulation Physicality Mapped with forces Magnifies beliefs about physical possibilities Including, sexual difference Islam and Sport • Islam • Concern for body • Piety & Modesty • Health & Hygiene • Defensive preparation • Intellectual and moral education • For some • Regulation of clothing for women AND men while engaged in physical activity

29. Clothing

30. Islam and Sport • Goal of sport critical

31. Islam and Sport • Goal of sport critical • e.g. Seeking fame and glory takes away from worshiping Allah

32. Islam and Sport • Goal of sport critical • e.g. Seeking fame and glory takes away from worshiping Allah • Avoid deviations • Commercialism • Gambling • Doping • The occult • Mixing of sexes

33. Islam and Sport • For some, problem of global (“Western”) forms of sport • Commercialized • Glory and fame central • Media – public – exposure • Especially problematic for females • Not a problem for all…

34. Abuja, All Africa Games 2003 Female Representation on National Teams at October 2003 All-Africa Games, Abuja, Nigeria African countries with predominantly Muslim populations do send female athletes, who often make up significant portions of the national teams. AND countries with predominantly Muslim populations often do better then countries with smaller Muslim populations.

35. Senegal • Sport primarily masculine venture • Significant room for women • Dakar • Women’s Basketball • Third most popular spectator sport • Other sports • Multiple levels of participation

36. Senegal • Obstacles • Gender neutral • Individual & infrastructural poverty – • Pas des moyens

37. Senegal • Obstacles • Gender neutral • Individual & infrastructural poverty – • Pas des moyens • Gendered • Broad socio-cultural perspective

38. Senegal • Obstacles • Gender neutral • Individual & infrastructural poverty – • Pas des moyens • Gendered • Broad socio-cultural perspective • Islam not primary factor • Though may be used to justify • Relatively tolerant form of Islam (Callaway & Creevey)

39. Senegal • Obstacles • Gender neutral • Gendered • Broad socio-cultural perspective • Not particularly Islamic • Found across Africa and beyond (even in US)

40. Senegal • Obstacles • Gender neutral • Gendered • Broad socio-cultural perspective • Femininity • Fertility • Ideal body-type

41. Senegal • Ideal Body Type • Women’s form representing substance of • Herself • Her family • Especially her husband

42. Senegal • Ideal Body Type • Women’s form representing substance of • Herself • Her family • Especially her husband • Muscles • Indicate physical labor

43. Senegal • Ideal Body Type • With urbanization emerges • Drianke Pharmaceutical misused to increase appetite so as to gain weight and appear more substantial.

44. Senegal • Ideal Body Type • With urbanization emerges • Drianke • Disquette

45. Senegal • Ideal Body Type • Avoid physical education • Doctor’s note • Counter forces supporting Athletic body • Headmistress • Role Models • Adama Diop • Mame Maty Mbengue • Remunerative careers

46. Senegal • Role of Islam in sport? • Surveys indicate not a big concern for female athletes • Tolerant • Not dismissed • Studies, seminars • Sent team to 3rd Muslim Women’s Games in Tehran, October 2001 – post-9/11 solidarity.

47. Senegal • Ahmadu Bambaat the World Cup 2002

48. Sudan • Islam • More restrictive practice for women in North

49. Sudan • Islam • More restrictive practice for women in North • Mitigated by class

50. Sudan • Outside Central Region and North • War, drought, poverty inhibit all