SHABNAM TAVAKOLI

 Tehran- In addition to discrimination and gender stereotypes, women athletes in Iran have been subject to strict requirements when competing in Iran or abroad. 34-year-old Parisa M. is one of the female taekwondo athletes facing restrictions in Iran. Starting Taekwondo when she was eight, she trained with her father.

“My journey with Taekwondo began when I was a child because my father was a Taekwondo coach. I am always asked, ‘Why do you choose to do martial arts?’ My answer is that I follow my dream.”

‘I have been ridiculed many times’

Women and girls doing sports in Iran face gender stereotypes. “I have been ridiculed many times because we have a patriarchal society believing that Taekwondo must be done by only men. I have to make more efforts to prove myself,” said Parisa M.

Parisa M. thinks that girls do not want to do taekwondo because they are afraid of being injured. “This is sad for me because I know why they think like that. During competitions, we are also afraid of the referees, of an injury of the face and of breaking our hands but we keep doing sports. Women and girls are afraid of doing sports because they are under the influence of the patriarchal mindset.”

‘We are alone’

Speaking about the lack of support by organizations, Parisa M. said, “I always tell my students that we are alone without being supported or encouraged by any organization. As women athletes, we have been subject to strict requirements when competing in our country or abroad. We have to cover our heads, we are banned from competing if the referees are men and men are not allowed to train or coach women.”

‘I could not leave my country’

Parisa M. thought about leaving Iran many times; however, she could not because she saw how girls in Iran make efforts. “Female athletes leave Iran one by one. This makes me very sad. I thought about leaving my country many times but I could not because I saw how girls made efforts despite all the restrictions. If all female athletes leave the country, girls will have no one to train or coach them. I do my best to encourage girls. I call on all female athletes to do what they should do.”