MOTM · Barriers & Needs of Women of Migrant Background in Sport

Barriers and Needs of Women of Migrant Background to Participate in Sport

Module progress: 3/6 completed

What you’ll do here: understand how overlapping identities create barriers to sport participation, explore the nine universal and specific barriers identified in MOTM research, practice reading scenarios through an intersectional lens, and collect practical actions to promote participation.

🧩 Intersectionality & Sport 🚧 Universal & Specific Barriers 🌈 Promoting Participation
Intersectionality and sport

INTERSECTIONALITY is a concept developed by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw (1989). It explains how different aspects of a person’s identity — such as gender, race, class, religion, sexuality, or migration status — don’t just add up separately, but intersect in ways that shape their unique experiences of privilege and disadvantage.

Intersectionality and sport
Intersectionality in a sport context.
“14 Axes of Identity Formation” – term translations
Verblijfstatuut → Residence status
Gezondheid → Health
Leeftijd → Age
Religie → Religion
Bezit → Property
Cultuur → Culture
Noord–Zuid / Oost–West → North–South / East–West
Maatschappelijke ontwikkeling → Social development
Klasse → Class
Nationaliteit → Nationality
Etniciteit → Ethnicity
Huidskleur → Skin colour
Seksuele oriëntatie → Sexual orientation
Geslacht → Gender

When we apply this to sport, it helps us understand why some women — especially women of migrant background — might face more or different barriers than others.

Four sport-specific examples

Gender and Migration Status

A newly arrived woman from Syria wants to join a local fitness class.

  • As a woman, she may already face fewer opportunities or feel less confident in mixed-gender spaces.
  • As a migrant, she might not speak the local language well or know how local sports clubs work.

Together, these factors can make her feel excluded or unsure where to start.

Religion and Gender

A Muslim woman who wears a hijab wants to swim.

  • Her religious beliefs may require women-only sessions.
  • Her gender might make her feel uncomfortable in mixed facilities.

If no women-only swimming sessions exist, she is effectively excluded from participation.

Socio-economic Status and Migration

A single mother from Eritrea wants to enroll her child in football.

  • Her economic situation makes paying club fees difficult.
  • As a migrant, she might not know about subsidies or local support.

Without financial or informational support, her child’s participation becomes difficult.

Language and Cultural Norms

A woman from Afghanistan joins a local running group.

  • Limited language skills make it hard to socialize.
  • Different cultural norms around clothing or physical activity might make her hesitant to participate.

Even if she joins, she may still feel socially isolated.

Understanding intersectionality in sport is very important. It helps us recognize that barriers are not only about gender or ethnicity alone. Women of migrant background often face multiple barriers at the same time:

  • Gender barriers: stereotypes about women in sport (“sport is not for girls”) or limited facilities like women-only teams.
  • Cultural/ethnic barriers: prejudices, racism, or microaggressions based on how they look, speak, or dress (e.g., wearing a hijab).
  • Socio-economic barriers: statistically higher financial vulnerability makes fees or clothing an additional obstacle.
  • Migration-related barriers: language difficulties or unfamiliarity with the social codes of a club can cause insecurity and exclusion.

Reflection exercise: identity walk

  • Start: Reflect on the different aspects of your own identity (gender, class, migration status, religion, ability, age).
  • Task: Choose 3–4 aspects and write how these may influence your access to sport.
  • Debrief: Discuss how these overlapping identities shape barriers for women of migrant background.
  • Variation (online): Use breakout rooms or anonymous input boards for sharing.

Mentor Tips

  • Remember that your mentee’s experience is shaped by more than one factor (e.g., gender and migration status and economic situation).
  • Listen actively: let her define what parts of her identity matter most to her in sport.
  • Avoid stereotypes — no single “woman of migrant background’s experience” exists.
Barriers: Universal vs specific
“At first, I felt unsure because I didn’t know anyone and struggled with English. And I never thought I could participate in any sport because of my family responsibilities. But the community dance program changed that: they welcomed me and provided childcare. Now I can bring my children and still focus on my own physical and mental well-being. Through dancing, my confidence grew and I started to know new people.” — Sahra, sportsperson of Somalia.

The Mentor on the Move project did a literature review, providing the theoretical framework. NINE UNIVERSAL BARRIERS for participation of women of migrant background in sport were identified by this review. See Module 3: Safeguarding for risk management and safer practice.

Women of migrant background often lack access to women-only or culturally appropriate sports facilities, which are crucial for comfort, safety, and participation. Mixed-gender spaces, unsuitable clothing policies, or male instructors can discourage involvement. Women-only spaces foster belonging, reduce pressure, and allow focus on sport rather than social judgment.

Good practice example: A local swimming club in Finland introduced women-only pool hours with female instructors and culturally appropriate swimwear options. Attendance from women of migrant background doubled within months, and participants reported feeling safe and respected.

Racism and discrimination—both direct and subtle—are major barriers in sport, creating feelings of exclusion and fear. Stereotypes portray women of migrant background as oppressed or needing Western liberation, ignoring their voices and agency. These experiences often push women to join minority-only sport groups as safe spaces.

Good practice example: A German football club trained its coaches in anti-racism and intercultural communication. They also adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination, which helped create a team culture where diversity was celebrated and women of migrant background felt welcomed.

Exclusion in sport is shaped by overlapping factors such as gender, ethnicity, class, religion, and migration status. Discrimination may be subtle or institutional, rooted in norms that unknowingly exclude women. Intersectionality shows how multiple disadvantages interact to shape experiences of non-belonging.

Good practice example: In the UK, a community sports program partnered with a local women’s shelter to include migrant mothers from different backgrounds. Activities were tailored to various needs — including flexible schedules and free childcare — making participation possible for women facing multiple barriers.

Family duties, work, and caregiving responsibilities limit time and energy for sport. Cultural expectations around femininity or resistance from family or community can further restrict participation. Migration can disrupt previous sport habits, while some women find new opportunities post-migration.

Good practice example: A Belgian yoga group created a “Family Yoga” session, where mothers could bring their children. This inclusive format respected cultural and family commitments while giving women space to focus on their physical and mental well-being.

Limited experience, skills, or confidence in sport prevent many women of migrant background from joining activities. Older age, poor health, or fear of failure heighten this barrier. Unfamiliarity with local sport rules, equipment, or clothing norms makes participation intimidating.

Good practice example: A Dutch municipality launched a “Sport for All” beginner fitness course for women of migrant background with little previous experience. The sessions focused on basic movement and fun rather than competition, helping participants build confidence before joining mainstream clubs.

Without social networks, women often do not know where or how to join sport groups. Friends and acquaintances play a key role in motivating participation and sharing information. Language barriers and limited community ties make it harder to access sport opportunities or practical supports like childcare.

Good practice example: A Swedish NGO used “sports ambassadors” — women of migrant background who already participated — to personally invite friends and acquaintances to new activities. This peer-to-peer model built trust and quickly expanded networks among women in the community.

Costs such as fees, equipment, or transport can make sport inaccessible, especially for low-income or refugee women. Shame about financial struggles can prevent women from seeking help. Economic constraints not only limit participation but also create social stigma and exclusion.

Good practice example: A football club in France partnered with the city council to subsidize memberships and provide free second-hand equipment. The initiative removed economic obstacles and helped migrant and low-income women join without financial pressure.

Poor command of the host language hinders understanding, communication, and social connection in sport settings. Instructors play a crucial role: sensitive facilitation and visual or multilingual methods can foster inclusion. Language barriers often overlap with cultural and social exclusion, reinforcing feelings of inferiority or “otherness.”

Good practice example: In Denmark, a community dance group introduced bilingual instructors and used music-based learning instead of long verbal explanations. This reduced language anxiety and allowed women to express themselves through movement rather than words.

Few visible role models with migrant backgrounds in sport discourage participation and belonging. Representation among athletes, coaches, and media figures can counter stereotypes and inspire women to engage. Seeing successful minority athletes promotes inclusion and national pride within migrant communities.

Good practice example: In the UK, a sports federation featured women of migrant background coaches and athletes in its campaigns and mentorship programs. Seeing women “like them” in leadership and media roles inspired many newcomers to join and stay active in sport.

Specific barriers

The Mentor on the Move project conducted two questionnaires in all project partner countries to better understand and address the needs and challenges faced by women of migrant background in the context of sport. The first questionnaire was designed for women with a migration background. The second questionnaire was directed at service providers operating in the field of sports. These questionnaires identified FOUR SPECIFIC BARRIERS for participation of women of migrant background in sport:

Barriers to participation
Barriers to participation reported in MOTM surveys.

Feelings of non-belonging are vague and inseparable, rarely related to any single factor but arising from women’s intersectional position (gender, immigrant status, age, ethnicity, social class).

Barriers in practice: Scenario exercise

Below are two fictional women of migrant background who want to join a local sports club.

1) Fatima (17) — swimming & faith

Likes to swim and wants to join a club. She wears a hijab; her parents worry about mixed-gender teams; her English is limited.

Your notes (saved on this device only):

2) Amira (29) — running & single parent

Recently moved and a single mom. She really wants to join the local running club, but she can’t afford sports gear.

Your notes (saved on this device only):

Mentor Tips

  • Be aware that a mentee may face several of these barriers at once. Ask open questions — don’t assume.
  • She may be balancing multiple responsibilities (work, childcare, language learning).
  • Offer small, practical support: share information in simple language, accompany her to a first session, or connect her to other women.
How to promote sport participation?

Intersectionality shows that barriers do not exist separately, but rather reinforce each other. This calls for solutions that take this layered reality into account.

General recommendations

  • Consider multiple barriers at once: time, childcare, transport, and cost when planning your activity.
  • Provide childcare options: organise parallel childcare or make activities open to the whole family.
  • Keep it affordable and local: choose free or low-cost venues that are easy to reach.
  • Share information clearly: use simple language and spread info through channels your target group actually uses.
  • Make activities flexible and reliable: adapt times and formats to women’s daily lives and ensure regularity.
  • Create a safe and welcoming atmosphere: be a sensitive and respectful instructor who makes everyone feel comfortable.
  • Involve women of migrant background in leadership roles: invite them to help organise, coach, and guide others.

Specific recommendations from women of migrant background

Facilities and costs infographic
What helps most: location of facilities and participation without costs.

Specific recommendations from service providers

  • Make activities affordable: reduce participation fees or organise free sessions.
  • Ensure comfort and inclusion: offer women-only groups, childcare, and female coaches when possible.
  • Create a safe environment: check facilities for privacy (e.g., curtains, suitable sportswear options).
  • Support communication: work with interpreters, use multiple languages, and include visuals to make information clear.
  • Use a bridge person: involve someone who shares the same cultural background to introduce and motivate others.
  • Collaborate locally: partner with NGOs, migrant/community centres, and local authorities to reach more women.
Key takeaways
  • Barriers are layered; design multi-solution responses.
  • Small practical supports often unlock participation.
  • Leadership opportunities for women of migrant background sustain inclusion.

Mentor Tips

  • Encourage low-threshold, nearby, flexible activities first.
  • Explore personal motivation (health, relaxation, socialising, self-confidence).
  • Suggest options that respect cultural or religious needs (women-only groups, female coaches, modest clothing).

Reflection Note

Based on this page, what two changes could your organisation make in the next month to lower barriers for women of migrant background?

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