In Pakistan’s deeply patriarchal society, where honour is linked to female modesty and male control is normalised as a fundamental role, women who enter public spaces such as sports confront resistance on multiple fronts. Here, women’s athletic participation is not only rare—it is radical. From the moment a girl decides to wear a tracksuit and leave the domestic sphere, she enters a contested arena where both cultural and institutional forces work to discipline, monitor, and often silence her.
Female athletes in Pakistan navigate a complex terrain of double-edged pressure: on the one hand, they battle traditional socio-economic constraints that restrict women’s mobility and bodily autonomy; on the other hand, they must contend with the masculinised structures of formal sports institutions, where male coaches, selectors, and administrators often wield power in ways that reinforce gender hierarchies.
In this context, women’s presence in sports becomes conditional, regulated not only by societal norms but also by institutional gatekeeping mechanisms that reward compliance over competence. The experience of Norina Shams, an internationally ranked squash player from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, offers a compelling illustration of these intersecting dynamics. Despite her talent and dedication, she was excluded from the Commonwealth Games squad—a decision she believes was influenced more by subjective biases than objective performance metrics.
Female athletes are applauded when they bring home medals, yet ignored or silenced when they advocate for respect, autonomy, or fairness
Reflecting on her early days, she shares: “At the beginning of my career, I heard things like I was very beautiful or very attractive, so every coach wanted to train me.” Such comments, often framed as compliments, in fact reflect a persistent pattern of gendered objectification—where a woman’s value is assessed through the lens of appearance, not athletic potential.
This phenomenon, recognised in sociological and anthropological discourse as aesthetic labour, reveals how female athletes are expected to perform dual roles: excelling in their sport while embodying socially accepted forms of femininity. The result is a constant negotiation between asserting athletic identity and managing the moral gaze of society. As Norina aptly states, “Getting permission to leave the house and wear a tracksuit is the first battle for a girl.”
Within the sports arena itself, these challenges are further intensified. Male-dominated selection committees, coaching staff, and federations often act as informal regulators of women’s participation, guided not by transparent criteria but by personal preferences and power dynamics. The result is a system where women are either hyper-visible or entirely invisible—depending on their willingness to conform to institutional expectations.
Anthropologically, this dynamic reflects a moral economy of control: a system where women who comply with dominant norms are selectively supported, while those who question or challenge the status quo face marginalisation. The structural neglect of female athletes—manifested in inadequate funding, limited access to elite training, and the absence of psychological or physical safety nets—only deepens this inequality.
Norina’s testimony also highlights the emotional toll this system exacts: “No one realises that it takes years for a female athlete to recover from the mental trauma she goes through.” This trauma is not incidental; it is systemic. It is produced by the intersection of patriarchal surveillance, institutional exclusion, and the constant demand to prove legitimacy in male-defined spaces.
While the national narrative occasionally celebrates women’s sporting achievements, such recognition is often fleeting and superficial. Female athletes are applauded when they bring home medals, yet ignored or silenced when they advocate for respect, autonomy, or fairness. Their presence is tolerated—but only when it aligns with broader patriarchal expectations.
What is urgently needed is not token representation or surface-level reforms, but a transformational shift in institutional culture. Sporting bodies must be reoriented towards transparency, equity, and inclusion. Systems of selection and support should prioritise merit, not appearance. And perhaps most importantly, women must be allowed to lead—not just as athletes, but as decision-makers, coaches, and policy influencers.