Harassment and Safety Concerns as Barriers to Women's Sports Participation in Public Spaces in Pakistan

Sports engagement is vital in enhancing women’s physical health, mental well-being and social empowerment. Due to harassment and safety concerns, women have limited participation in sports at public places. This study identified areas of harassment, which affect women’s sports participation and safety concerns influencing their involvement. Data were collected from female participants in an urban area by using a purposive sampling technique. The participants' responses were recorded using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including Chi-square to assess variation in experiences of the responses. The result highlights a statistically significant difference in the experiences of participants (x2 =11.78, df = 2, p =0.003), underscoring that harassment is an influential barrier for women to participate in sports. These results show the dire need for policy reforms, safety measures, and the creation peaceful public environment for female participants to promote equitable opportunities for women in sports.