GENDER EQUALITY AND EQUITY IN SPORTS TAEKWONDO IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

The Saudi Arabia Taekwondo Federation (STF), which has been in operation since 1976, experiences problems with gender equality and equity that is a significant issue in Saudi Arabia (Thompson, 2017). “The Saudi government, driven by its 2030 vision that was released in 2016 as the blueprint that expresses the kingdom’s long-term goals of transforming the country, has committed to promoting women’s sport under two main mandates. At the country level, by improving the quality of life and health of women and girls, and internationally, through giving visibility to Saudi female athletes.” The English national newspaper Arab News (2021) reports that female participation in sports has risen by 150% since 2015 in Saudi Arabia because of the improvements towards the kingdom’s vision. However, Shahab, Pérez-Villalba and Kossaifi (2021) highlight that the issue of gender inequality is still rife in Saudi Arabia that is a dominant male nation. Although the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presents 25 recommendations for gender equality, it is unclear if this is evident in Saudi Arabia. This research paper considers the Taekwondo Federation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (STF) and interviews ten athletes and staff to evaluate the gender equality and equity status within (STF) in the light of IOC’s 25 recommendations for the issue. Investigating the gender equality practices from the perspectives of the management and athletic staff of the Saudi federation revealed that gender inequality is still present among the public and others who are affiliated with the Taekwondo Federation. Comparing this research to the literature review indicated similarities to the social construction of gender theory. The study identified limited awareness of the IOC recommendations; in cases where there is some awareness, it was not through official channels, reflecting a lack or breakdown of communication between the federation and athletes. The findings also revealed that male athletes are favoured over females, though current trends reflect an ongoing positive development.