The Lived Sport Experiences of Muslim Females Athletes Leading Advocacy and Activist Initiatives in Sport

Abstract

Using Zine’s (2004) Critical Faith-Centered Framework, this research focused on Muslim female athletes who engaged in advocacy and activist initiatives in sport. To be exact, the research purpose was to explore the lived sport experiences of Muslim female athletes' advocacy and activist initiatives, specifically as they create sport opportunities for Muslim girls and women. The intended three research questions included 1), what are the sport experiences of Muslim female athletes who are actively advocating for Muslim girls and women?, 2), how are Muslim female athletes facilitating sport opportunities for Muslim girls and women?, and 3), in what ways are Muslim female athletes engaging in advocacy and activist initiatives? Two virtual interviews took place with eight Muslim female athletes whose work revolved around creating sport opportunities for Muslim girls and women in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Using Braun and Clark's (2006) thematic content analysis, three themes were identified. The first theme identified was Muslim women’s catalyst for current work, related to the ways participants experienced sport and how that served as a catalysts with their current work creating sport opportunities for the next generations of Muslim girls and women. The second theme identified was, Muslim women navigating their identity(ies) with their work, related to participants various identities and the ways they navigated such identities with their work, and the third theme identified was, factors shaping and evolving Muslim female athletes work, which related to the support that shaped and evolved their work. The finding indicated that participants' youth sport experience played a significant role in the ways they facilitated sport opportunities for Muslim girls and women, and participants both engaged in advocacy and activist initiatives with their work.