Chandigarh:: The Postgraduate Department of Sociology at Mehr Chand Mahajan DAV College for Women organised an interactive session on ‘The Role of Sports in Empowerment of Women: A Sociological Approach’. The session was conducted by Professor Sanjay Tewari, Honorary Professor at the Russian Academy of Social and Fundamental Sciences, Moscow; Chair of the Sports, Leisure and The Body Division, Society for the Study of Social Problems, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA. Prof. Tewari emphasised that sports in India can serve as a powerful instrument for women’s empowerment by fostering self-esteem, leadership qualities, and social inclusion.
He highlighted that the sociology of sports, through various perspectives, examines the reciprocal relationship between sports and society, revealing how gender inequalities manifest within the sporting arena and how they can be challenged. He further stressed that a deeper understanding of these intersections can help formulate effective policies and practices to ensure a more equitable and empowering environment for women athletes across levels.
The session concluded with an engaging and meaningful interaction between Prof. Tewari, the students, and the faculty, focusing on strategies to enhance women’s participation in sports across age groups and social strata, including para sports and veteran sports.
Lauding this initiative, Officiating Principal Ms. Neena Sharma said that it proved beneficial in inspiring participants to critically reflect on the sociological dimensions of sports and its transformative potential in empowering women.