The sport and exercise experiences of physically disabled women in Iran: shame, stereotyping, and Goffman’s stigma

Abstract

To date, there is a scarcity of research in Iran exploring disabled women’s sport and exercise experiences. However, it is evident that widespread challenges exist for disabled people to participate in daily life on an equal basis to their non-disabled counterparts. Using 16 interviews, our research aimed to explore the intersecting identities of disability and gender in Iranian women’s sport and exercise participation, using Goffman’s theory of stigma and the social model of disability. Our findings suggest numerous environmental barriers to participation. As traditional gender beliefs still prevail in Iran, this often created a ‘double disadvantage’ for women. Both enacted and affiliate stigma were highlighted by interviewees, with negative perceptions around disability internalised, resulting in self-exclusion from sport and exercise spaces and disempowering elements to their participation. This research adds to the literature on sport/exercise and disability, focusing on Iranian women’s voices which are largely absent from the current literature.

Points of interest

• Prevalence of disability is considered high in Iran, with perceptions of under-reporting, particularly for women and girls.

• In Iran, disability is often classed as a negative, with widespread discrimination and stigma apparent.

• The aim of this study was to consider the barriers to sport and physical activity participation in Iran amongst physically disabled women, using semi-structured interviews.

• Using Goffman’s theory of stigma, this research found a range of barriers to disabled women’s sport and exercise participation, including environmental obstacles and societal attitudes.

• Discrimination and negative perceptions were internalised by some women, often leading to their self-exclusion from sport and exercise.

Keywords:

• Disability
• gender
• sport
• exercise
• Goffman’s stigma

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the participants who agreed to be part of the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).