Women with disabilities often face a "double discrimination".
In all areas of disability, women have a right to participation and this includes as athletes, coaches, officials, managers, sport scientists, administrators and leaders. More than two-thirds of the world’s women live in developing countries, but the overall participation rates for sport are minimal.
Women in developing countries experience additional barriers to sport participation and these have been linked to issues such as the male dominated world of sport, class, culture, body image and dress in addition to religious, traditional and cultural beliefs regarding the role of women.
Women with disabilities have ‘double discrimination’ in disability sport – being disabled and being a woman. There are statistically less women with disabilities across the spectrum than men and women are less prone to taking up sport. In 2005, it was estimated that women make up only about one-third of athletes with disabilities in international competitions.
Further research is required in specific countries and regions to identify the issues and obstacles that women are facing.
