Experiences of Omani Women in Physical Education

Oman is an Islamic, Arabic country with complex overlays of religious and cultural expectations, for example regarding sex-segregation, dress codes and women’s physicality. Such factors impact on the body-centred subject of sport and physical education. A qualitative case study undertaken in 2008 was repeated in 2022 to offer insights into similarities and changes in the experiences of Omani, Muslim women students in physical education while at school and while attending Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) as students of Physical Education Initial Teacher Training (PEITT). A social constructionist theoretical framework was used. Open-ended questionnaires were returned from 67 women students in 2008 and 79 in 2022. Twenty follow-up interviews were conducted in each case. Omani men were included, 97 returned questionnaires in 2008 and 98 in 2022. Results indicated little change between experiences in 2008 and 2022. SQU offered a positive environment for the students in physical education. The transformational experiences of SQU were not replicated in the state schools. The student-teachers met poor attitudes towards physical education, no indoor facilities and community resistance to Omani women teaching the subject. Conservative socio-cultural attitudes on gender segregation and dress codes affected women’s participation and careers in physical education.