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

Afroozeh, M. S., Phipps, C., Afrouzeh, A., Asiri, Z. A. and Safarijafarlou, H. R. (2024) The sport and exercise experiences of physically disabled women in Iran: shame, stereotyping, and Goffman’s Stigma. Disability & Society. pp. 1-23. ISSN 0968-7599

[thumbnail of This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in  Disability & Society on 08 November 2023 available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2024.2328560] Text (This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Disability & Society on 08 November 2023 available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2024.2328560)
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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 sixteen 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.

Publication Type: Articles
Uncontrolled Keywords: disability, gender, sport, exercise, Goffman's stigma
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports
H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Women > HQ1101 Women. Feminism
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions: Academic Areas > Business School
Research Entities > Centre for Health and Allied Sport and Exercise Science Research (CHASER)
Depositing User: Karen Smith
Date Deposited: 20 Nov 2024 12:35
Last Modified: 20 Nov 2024 12:35
URI: https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/7831

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