Women athletes in MENA are not just competing for medals—they are striving for recognition, respect, and the right to shape their own futures and inspire generations to come.
Dana Hourany
While the Middle East still faces obstacles related to women’s rights and deeply ingrained prejudices, there has been clear development in the sports sector. The recent Paris Olympics highlighted the growing presence of female athletes from the region, who are breaking barriers and showcasing their talent on an international stage.
In general, women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region face a significant gender gap in several aspects of their lives, especially employment. Currently, only 19% of women are part of the labor force, representing a record low. The unemployment rate for young women in Arab countries is particularly alarming, reaching 42.5%, nearly double that of young men at 21.5%.
In the last few years, violence against women has gained increased attention globally, and while it is not unique to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, entrenched patriarchal systems have perpetuated discrimination against women both legally and socially, normalizing and enabling various forms of violence.
Countries like the UAE, Lebanon, Morocco and Algeria have seen significant advancements in women’s rights, particularly in the realm of sports. Despite these gains, women in the sports industry in the Middle East still contend with patriarchal perceptions that devalue their passion and create obstacles to their growth.
Middle Eastern women face discrimination and hostility not only from their own societies but also from Western societies. A notable example is Algerian athlete Imane Khelif, whose experience at the Paris Olympics highlighted the unique challenges women can encounter.
The Imane Khelif case
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics after facing intense online criticism and abuse over her gender. Khelif’s victory against China’s Yang Liu, ensured her place in the games after a long and difficult journey.
Her participation sparked controversy after the International Boxing Association (IBA), which has been banned from the Olympics since 2019, previously declared her ineligible to compete last year due to excessive testosterone levels. Despite this, Khelif successfully won her first bout at the Paris Games.
The controversy surrounding Khelif, as well as Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, has fueled a heated debate about gender identity in sports. Both boxers competed in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago without issue, but the eligibility concerns have since dominated discussions, with figures like former U.S. president Donald Trump and author J.K. Rowling weighing in, incorrectly questioning their gender.
J.K. Rowling referred to Imane Khelif as a “male” and accused her of “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered.” Rowling, who has faced criticism from human rights activists in recent years for her views on transgender issues, maintains that biological sex is immutable.
For his part, Trump weighed in, stating, “I will keep men out of women’s sports,” while his vice presidential nominee, JD Vance, claimed that “Kamala Harris’ ideas about gender” led “to a grown man pummeling a woman in a boxing match.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also echoed similar sentiments, arguing, “Athletes with male genetic characteristics should not compete in women’s sports… from my perspective, it was not a fair contest.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which was overseeing the competition due to governance issues at the IBA, has firmly defended both athletes. IOC president Thomas Bach emphasized that Khelif and Lin are recognized as women in their respective countries, with passports confirming their gender. Despite the challenges, Khelif’s performance has proven her resilience and skill on the Olympic stage.
The gender controversy is not new. It, in fact, exposes a troubling pattern of discrimination against people of color in sports. Serena Williams, throughout her tennis career starting in the mid-1990s, endured harsh scrutiny over her physique. These accusations against women of color not only harm trans women, who are often denied opportunities in elite sports, but also unfairly target cisgender women of color, questioning their identity and undermining their accomplishments. This situation further underscores the hypocrisy surrounding gender standards in the Olympics.
More Obstacles for Women in Sports
Aziza Sbeity, Lebanon’s 100m national record holder, told Fanack that the controversy surrounding Imane Khelif highlights the broader issues of stereotyping and sexism in sports.
“Imane’s story is a clear example of how female athletes, especially from our region, face additional scrutiny—not just for their performance, but for how they look,” Sbeity said, emphasizing the undue focus on Khelif’s appearance.
Sbeity further addressed the online bullying Khelif endured, particularly accusations around her gender.
“They’re technically bullying her for the way she looks and the way she was born and she was born like that. So of course, there’s a very large element of bullying her as a woman, which plays a huge role in our gender conformity of what women should look like,” Sbeity said.
Sbeity has faced her fair share of struggles in Lebanon, not necessarily because of her gender, but due to the country’s incompetent governing system.
She recounts that the Olympic selection process for track and field in Lebanon only allows one athlete per gender to qualify.
“They only take one athlete to represent track. That’s because we don’t have someone who’s directly qualifying,” she said.
This limitation is compounded by the federation’s failure to prioritize gender equity, leaving athletes frustrated.
The situation became more complicated when another male athlete, who had recently left the army, achieved high points just before the qualification deadline.
“Technically, a person who had run left the army… does that give him the right to represent the country?” Sbeity questioned, emphasizing the unclear eligibility rules from the federation.
Ultimately, due to mismanagement and last-minute decisions, no athlete was able to represent Lebanon in track and field at the Olympic Games for the second time since 1996.
“It was the shock of my life… you can’t just forget the rest of your athletes and say, okay, then no one’s gonna go,” she said, expressing her disappointment in the federation’s handling of the situation and the missed opportunity for Lebanon on the Olympic stage.
Sbeity has taken her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking clearer rules on eligibility and gender discrimination in Lebanon’s sports federation. Although she understands not much might change due to Lebanon’s weak governing system, she says that “just the fact that it got there is a huge deal,” and views it as a critical first step toward reform.
Entrenched Social Stereotypes
Sbeity is trying to maintain an optimistic view of her role as an athlete, seeing it as something that goes beyond competing on the track.
“I feel like my role as an athlete has grown, way more than just on the track,” she said, explaining how her focus has shifted toward making a broader impact. For her, the journey has become about addressing the governance issues that plague Lebanon’s sports system.
“I don’t know what will happen in the next four years for the next Olympics, but for now, maybe my journey is about trying to create change,” Sbeity said. She is also working on establishing an association aimed at driving that change, hoping to reshape the system for future athletes.
In Saudi Arabia Saudi women continue to struggle for equal rights. Gender discrimination is prevalent in sports, where women and girls were banned from participating in school sports or attending stadium events as recently as 2018.
In a controversial move, FIFA awarded Saudi Arabia’s state tourism authority sponsorship of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, sparking criticism for disregarding the ongoing repression of women’s rights defenders in the country. The sponsorship placed Saudi advertisements prominently in the most-watched women’s sports event globally, despite the country’s poor track record on gender equality in sports.
Furthermore, marginalized groups such as women refugees face even harsher challenges. Palestinian football player and coach Amena Chararyd residing in Lebanon told Fanack that from a young age, she encountered social and cultural barriers, with many in her community opposing the idea of a girl playing football.
“People used to call me a tomboy because I played football,” Chararyd said.
Despite this, she persisted, driven by the support of her father, who was open to the idea of his daughter pursuing sports.
Chararyd’s passion for football led her to join a team formed by the al-Jalil Association, a local initiative aimed at encouraging girls to participate in sports. “It all started from there,” she stated.
Her football career flourished, and she represented Palestine in several matches, both in Lebanon and abroad. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and her nursing studies forced her to scale back her involvement on the field. Chararyd transitioned to coaching young girls, saying, “It’s important to guide them, especially in facing societal expectations.”
Despite these achievements, Chararyd highlights the persistent challenges women face in sports, particularly in Lebanon. Access to proper facilities and resources remains limited, and there is a lack of financial support for athletes in general, especially female athletes.
“There’s no long-term investment or proper infrastructure for women’s football here, especially not for refugee women,” she lamented, adding that if she were to live abroad, her future may have looked different.
“In refugee societies and the Middle Eastern society at large, women are still perceived as having a duty to become housewives who stay away from boyish activities such as sports,” she said.
In a society where sports often symbolize male power, the fight for equality in athletics is part of a broader movement for gender equity. The ongoing efforts of these athletes highlight the importance of consistent support, both financially and socially, as well as the need for more inclusive policies and representation. Women in sports are not just competing for medals—they are striving for recognition, respect, and the right to shape their own futures and inspire generations to come.