Explanation and analysis of social factors affecting the nature of gender inequalities in professional sports in Iran

In the present research, the investigation of the social factors affecting the nature of gender inequalities in professional sports in Iran and the presentation of the applied model and the determined topics and axes have been examined by proposing the challenges related to each one. According to this goal, the main question of the present research is, what are the social factors affecting the nature of gender inequalities in professional sports in Iran? A qualitative research method with an exploratory design was used for its implementation. Because the number of participants is limited, the statistical sample size was selected using the purposeful snowball sampling method (theoretical saturation). In the qualitative part of the research, the grounded theory technique was based on the Strauss and Corbin model, and interviews were conducted with 18 people, and a semi-structured interview was used to collect data. The results showed that from the point of view of professional sports, it is defined based on a male and patriarchal point of view, and the type of game of winning and losing in sports fields is derived from the discriminatory demands of gender, which considers more power and championships, winning and losing, athletes and coaches applying for higher positions and increasing sports identity and strengthening it. They should strengthen the views related to gender identity and its attributes in male and female athletes.