One step forward, two steps back...
There's been some coverage in the Kuwaiti newspapers in the past few months of a proposition of forming a national women's football team. Of course it was immediately opposed by Islamist MPs, saying it was against religion, contradicting Kuwaiti social norms and traditions.
Today when I read the following in a book written in 1971, I couldn't help but laugh at the optimism of the time:
It hardly seems credible today that there used to an anti-sports attitude in Kuwait. Moreover, the early Muslim teachers preached against public exposure of shoulders, chest and thighs - which sounded the death knell for sports. In particular, in the old days schoolgirls were never permitted to participate in any form of physical exercise. In the past they were veiled, their bodies enshrouded in black, gruesome cloaks almost before they reached puberty. Today it is common and seemly for schoolgirls to take part in public sports. At the first Arab school sports held in Kuwait, in November 1963, at the Shuwaikh Secondary School Stadium, some 70,000 spectators watched girls from local schools give an impressive gymnastics display....
Today when I read the following in a book written in 1971, I couldn't help but laugh at the optimism of the time:
It hardly seems credible today that there used to an anti-sports attitude in Kuwait. Moreover, the early Muslim teachers preached against public exposure of shoulders, chest and thighs - which sounded the death knell for sports. In particular, in the old days schoolgirls were never permitted to participate in any form of physical exercise. In the past they were veiled, their bodies enshrouded in black, gruesome cloaks almost before they reached puberty. Today it is common and seemly for schoolgirls to take part in public sports. At the first Arab school sports held in Kuwait, in November 1963, at the Shuwaikh Secondary School Stadium, some 70,000 spectators watched girls from local schools give an impressive gymnastics display....
All this represents an enormous step forward.
John Daniels: Kuwait Journey (1971)
posted by Q8Sultana @ 3:53 AM
5 Comments:
But I've seen Kuwaiti women participating in national taekwondo leagues :/
Q8Sultana, u deleted my comments 2 times i dont know why. arent you talking about FREEDOME HERE?
btw is that ur house? is it yorkshire? :P
Anon, I deleted your comments because they were rude. (The last part specifically)
No, I'm not talking about the freedom here. I am talking about how in 1971 this particular writer was very optimistic about the future of sports for Kuwaiti girls.
Yet, just in 2006 the question of starting a female football team, as well as a female olympic swimming team, has been harshly criticized by Islamist MPs, and seems to be generally frowned upon.
I just find it ironic that 30 years ago the situation for girl's sports was a lot more rosy than today.
And no, it's not Yorkshire.
How's Manchester btw?
no one is stopping you from playing football, swimming or any sports, "nadi alfatat" they have football team and they play inside hall, they have swimming pool. some schools have summer swimmings pool, my sister goes there and play tennis as well
and believe me in this, im sure the particular writer which u were talking about, he never saw kuwait in his life, because in that time we dont have place will take 70,000 to watch girls running or doing some sports!!
btw im not from manchester, im a londoner, north london :)
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