Women in Gaza take up boxing despite social stigma
Despite the patriarchal and religious stigma surrounding female sporting activities in the Gaza Strip, several women and girls have joined a boxing team out of love for this sport.
Society in the Gaza Strip sees boxing for women as an instigator to violence against their husbands in the future and has repeatedly slammed women for practicing it, in an attempt to get them to quit it.
Despite the obstacles, Gazan women have fought for their right to practice boxing in a society that keeps proving its patriarchal character first and foremost with its repeated refusal of women to participate in sports and other fields, restricting women’s roles to marriage and the home.
However, some support women's rights to live their lives as they see fit, as long as they do not undermine traditions and norms.
Malak Mosleh, 15, has watched several boxing training and championships of boxer Muhammad Ali who made her fall in love with the sport when she was a child. After many attempts to find a boxing team in Gaza, she finally got the opportunity to realize her dream with the support of her family.
