Pitt-Bradford Student Presents Paper on Muslim Women in Sports

BRADFORD, Pa. – Hannah Penman of Olean, N.Y., a sport and recreation management major at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, presented a paper on Muslim women in sports earlier this month.

Penman presented her paper, “The Obstacles Muslim Women Face When Attempting to Participate in Sport” at the Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies annual undergraduate research symposium in Pittsburgh.

She wrote her paper for the Religion and Culture course taught by Dr. Michael Stuckart, associate professor of anthropology.

Her paper discusses the challenges of encouraging women’s sports and physical activity within the confines of traditional Islam, which requires women to be modest at all times. She also discusses possible solutions, including gender specific tournaments and redesigned sportswear.

Penman wrote that sports are being and can be used as a vehicle for social change in the Muslim world with some success.

She will spend this summer at the University of Leeds in London, where her studies will include the 2012 Olympics.