Institutional Level

RELIGIOUS BARRIERS:

Religion is an Institutional barrier to womens participation in triathlons. Australia is becoming more and more multicultural all the time. For example, extensive numbers of Muslim women are migrating to Australia and have extremely different religious views to the typical Australian women. Australia is known as a sun-burnt land where everyone is free to do what they feel comfortable with. This includes actions, speech and dress. Womens triathletes are constantly in a 'coast/beach' culture. It is normal and expected that women involved in water sports, such as triathlons, will wear a bikini or revealing, tight swimsuit. However, to Muslims, to wear a bikini or even partially revealing swimsuit would be an extreme transgression against their religion. They must instead wear a 'bhurkini'. This is a full length swimsuit with only the face, hands and feet exposed.
(Social Policy Research Center- Cortis. N, Sawrikar. P and Muir. K. June 2008. Female physicality and dress (Online) Available:http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/File/Report8_08_CALD_Women_in_sport.pdf Accessed 16/11/11)


Amira is a Muslim woman who found swimming uncomfortable due to religious restrictions in modesty. She would prefer gender segregated pools in order to partially reduce humiliation. She said:

"I‟m covered too. I find it difficult. Not all the sports I can do, you see,
just a few, because it‟s a bit hard, like at swimming we go and it‟s only
for women. I go sometimes to one for everyone [men and women] but I
have to wear a long one [gestures] and cover my head. It‟s not
comfortable."
(Social Policy Research Center- Cortis. N, Sawrikar. P and Muir. K. June 2008. Female physicality and dress (Online) Available:http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/File/Report8_08_CALD_Women_in_sport.pdf Accessed 16/11/11)

Clearly, this image of a 'burkini' is unusual and almost comical to look at from our point of view in Australia. These Muslim women are not oblivious to this and  feel very uncomfortable about being seen in triathlons. They feel embarrassed and restricted when out in the public. They know fully that they are not the stereotypical picture of  a 'smoking hot womens triathlete' that the media and society love. They are stared at as if they are from another planet and laughed at. Therefore, they feel that they cannot participate in triathlons.

TIME MANAGEMENT DUE TO SCHOOL AND EXPENSE ISSUES:

Another barrier that lies within the Institutional Barrier is school opportunities. Often girls in school do not have much time to properly train and increase their fitness levels for participating in triathlons due to hectic schedules. Speaking from a high school students point of view who works a part time job as well, training time outside of school is EXTREMELY minimal. Spare time is often jam-packed with assignments, study and working. The only chance many high school girls have to get active is during school based programs and physical education classes. The sport Triathlon is quite expensive due to facility hiring, bicycle cost.etc. Therefore, not many schools can afford to offer triathlons as a sporting option. The expenses for a whole class to participate in triathlons would be far too great. Therefore, not many young women grow up with the experience of participating in triathlons. From a young age during school, they are not given opportunities to do so.