Prepared by: Yomna Al-Zubairy

 

Yemen is currently experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. In addition to the conflict and economic crisis, Yemen suffers from a severe shortage of basic services and infrastructure damage, millions of Yemenis are displaced, and malnutrition is on the rise. All of this has led to the diminishing importance of many aspects of life, and of course, sports was one of these aspects that not only diminished in importance but also transformed from an important part of daily life for Yemenis to a luxury and comfort that is difficult to think about.

All of the above has made it extremely difficult for everyone to practice sports, but women in Yemen face additional challenges that hinder their participation in sports. These challenges go beyond the difficulties faced by society as a whole, to include societal customs and traditions, a lack of suitable sports facilities for women, a lack of awareness of the importance of sports for them, a lack of sports programs, and many other problems that have stood as an obstacle to empowering women to practice any type of sport, whether it be simple individual sports or professional sports that require the development of the abilities of Yemeni athletes to ensure they reach the professional level.

Despite these challenges, increasing the presence of women in sports is of paramount importance because it contributes significantly to improving the mental and physical health of women and enables them to participate actively in society. Women’s participation in sports in Yemen will also contribute to building a strong society that promotes social cohesion.

Following all of this, the Information and Opinion Polling Unit at (Yemen Information Center) conducted a survey on women’s participation in sports in Yemen to learn the opinions of a segment of Yemeni society about the importance of women’s participation in the sports arena, the main challenges they face, and the steps that should be taken to increase women’s participation in sports from their perspective.

The survey was conducted on a sample of 133 participants from different parts of Yemen, with females representing the largest proportion of participants at 73.7%, compared to 26.3% for males. The participants were distributed across different age groups, with the age group between 26 and 35 years old representing the largest proportion (43.6%), followed by the age group between 36 and 45 years old at 27.1%. The survey also included 14.3% of those aged between 46 and 65 years old, and 8.3% of the 18-25 age group, while the participation rate of older people (65 years and older) was limited to 6.7%.

In terms of education, those with a bachelor’s degree were the most represented group at 31.6%, followed by those with a high school diploma at 26.3%. The survey included 19.5% of university students, 12.8% of those with a preparatory certificate or less, and only 9.8% of those with higher degrees.

The survey covered 18 Yemeni governorates, with Sana’a governorate having the highest proportion of participants at 30.1%, followed by Taiz governorate at 12.5%, Hadhramaut at 9.8%, Dhamar at 7.5%, and Al-Hudaida at 6.8%. The survey also included 6% from Al-Dhali’ governorate, 4.5% from Aden, 3.8% from Al-Jawf, 3% from Rayma, 3% from Hajja, 3% from Ibb, 2.3% from Socotra, 2.3% from Shabwa, 1.5% from Amran, 1.5% from Lahj, and only 0.8% each from Sa’ada, Abyan, and Mahra, respectively.

 

Key Findings

The survey results revealed a mixed bag of opinions regarding women’s participation in sports in Yemen. While 43.6% of participants strongly supported women’s participation in all sports activities, reflecting a growing acceptance of this concept, 28.6% expressed some reservations, believing that certain sports are unsuitable for Yemeni women. On the other hand, 27.8% of participants outright rejected the idea of women participating in any sports activities.

When asked about societal acceptance of women’s participation in sports, 49.6% indicated that societal rejection persists, attributed to social and cultural beliefs. Meanwhile, 40.6% suggested partial acceptance from society, while the remaining 9.8% stated that there is full acceptance of women’s participation in sports activities by Yemeni society.

Regarding the assessment of women’s participation in sports in Yemen, 46.6% of participants indicated that women’s participation in sports activities in Yemen is significant, attributing this to increased awareness of the importance of sports for women and the emergence of successful female role models in the field. However, 39.1% suggested that women’s participation in sports in Yemen is limited, attributing this to the persistence of certain obstacles that confine women’s roles to specific areas. The remaining 14.3% believe that women’s participation in sports activities is moderate.

The survey results also revealed a gap in participants’ opinions regarding the impact of increased participation of Yemeni women in sports on their societal empowerment. While 44.4% were unsure of the extent to which this participation would impact women’s empowerment, 37.6% believed that increased participation would significantly contribute to the empowerment of Yemeni women in society, while 18% believed the opposite.

Female athletes in Yemen certainly face numerous obstacles and challenges that hinder their active participation in sports activities, including:

• Societal customs and traditions: (51.9%) of survey participants believe that societal customs and traditions in Yemen are among the biggest obstacles facing women’s participation in sports activities.
• Lack of suitable sports facilities: (45.9%) of respondents believe that this lack restricts women’s opportunities to engage in regular and safe sports activities.
• Lack of financial support: (45.1%) of survey participants believe that increased financial support would contribute to developing sports infrastructure, providing necessary equipment, and supporting women’s sports clubs and federations.
• The ongoing conflict in Yemen: (44.4%) say that the ongoing conflict in Yemen has significantly contributed to the deterioration of sports infrastructure and the destruction of sports facilities, making sports participation nearly impossible for many women.
• Lack of dedicated sports programs for women: (38.3%) of survey participants said that the lack of sports programs for women could lead to a shortage of sports skills among women and limit their opportunities to participate in sports competitions.
• Low awareness of the importance of sports for women: (36.8%) said that there is a need for widespread awareness campaigns to promote a culture of sports participation among women and highlight its benefits.

When it comes to the support provided by the government and NGOs to increase women’s participation in sports in Yemen, the results showed a significant disparity in the level of this support. While 54.1% of participants believe that support is absent, 22.6% believe that there is weak support, and 12% believe that there is moderate support. Although 11.3% considered the support sufficient, the results overall indicate an urgent need to increase the support provided to empower women in this field.

Survey participants believe that support can be provided to Yemeni female athletes through the following:

• Providing suitable sports facilities: (69.9%) of participants believe that there is a dire need to provide fully equipped sports fields and halls specifically for women.
• Organizing dedicated sports programs: (64.7%) of participants believe that the absence of dedicated sports programs is one of the main obstacles preventing Yemeni women from participating in sports activities and leading to their reluctance to engage in sports in general.
• Increasing financial support for female athletes: (41.4%) of respondents said that increasing financial support would contribute to the development of women’s sports in Yemen.
• Changing societal perceptions of female athletes: (40.6%) of survey participants believe that it is necessary to change prevailing concepts about women’s roles in society and encourage social acceptance of women’s participation in sports activities.
• Raising awareness of the importance of sports for women: (38.3%) of respondents believe that to ensure increased participation of women in sports activities, awareness must be raised about the importance of sports for women’s physical and mental health and its role in empowerment.

In conclusion, the results of this survey revealed the magnitude of the challenges facing Yemeni women’s participation in sports activities, which are significantly affected by the ongoing conflict and the difficult economic conditions the country is experiencing. Despite this, survey participants believe that it is necessary to support women’s participation in sports and appreciate the importance of sports in empowering women in society. Providing a supportive environment for women’s participation in sports requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including the government, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, and families.