• French minister defends 5-day baby leave
• High prevalence of child marriage in India
• Confronting medical issues for women
• Africa the worst hit by AIDS, by far
• An International Women's Day call for women to know their osteoporosis risk
• Toll of Malaria high for African women
• London 2012 - a chance to nurture strong female role models
• Being a woman
• Violence against women
• I want to go to school
• Men and women together for a better world: From Uzbekistan in Central Asia
• Closing the Gender Gap on International Women's Day - and Every Day
• It is now more dangerous to be a woman than to be a soldier in modern
• Sewing a better future on International Women's Day
• Pakistan's women struggle for recognition
• S.Arabia urged to halt floggings, give women rights
• Reporters stripped by S.Leone circumcision society
• Agree to differ over women bishops - Anglican leader
• Few women follow pre-pregnancy recommendations
• India grapples with high maternal death rate
• Olympics-Women's boxing takes step closer to Games inclusion
• Human rights still poor in Africa, US says
• Birth control knowledge lacking in developing world
• In hard times, more U.S. women try to sell their eggs
• Billie Jean King targets gender unity
• A drink a day poses cancer risk for women
• Are women the key to soft power?
• Why Isn't Anne Burras Famous?
• Baby-Boomer Women Have Experienced Gender Issues
• Cost of a life was worth $2.00
• The Alternative - Developing Culture of Peace
• Women's self awareness and leadership
• Women and Sport
• Being A Woman
• IWD in Kenya
• Women demand bigger say in UN climate talks
• Norway tops gender gap index, Yemen ranked worst
• Educating girls single most effective strategy for economic growth
• China sees more female than male suicides per annum
• 4 in 10 births worldwide not attended by doctor or health professional
• Number of women holding university qualifications overtaken men for first time
• Gender gap closing on health and education but not economics and politics
• Harassment forces Afghan girls out of school
• Women's rights key to Africa AIDS crisis
• Vodka for women said to fuel Russia's acoholism
• Add an article

News headlines powered by Thomson Reuters

Pakistan's women struggle for recognition

KARACHI (Reuters) - At an age when most women in Pakistan are settling down to married life, Qanita Jalil is preparing for what could be her last shot at making her name as a cricketer in her conservative homeland.

"I am 27 and my mother is now pressurising me to get married. It might be my last tournament," said Jalil as she looked forward to taking part in the women's World Cup in Australia, which starts on Saturday.

Proudly sporting her green Pakistani track suit after a spell of fast bowling at the team's training camp before setting off for Australia on Sunday, Jalil said her five brothers had encouraged her to play cricket.

"They all supported me. I started playing with my brothers and learnt from them. Without their encouragement my parents would not have tolerated my playing cricket," said Jalil, who has a masters degree in economics.

While their male counterparts are idolised and earn millions, women's cricket in Pakistan is still an amateur sport. Playing opportunities and training facilities are scarce for girls.

Jalil belongs to a moderate Pashtun family from Abbotabad in the North West Frontier Province, a region which, despite being rocked by violence and fighting between Islamic militants and security forces, has provided a steady flow of quality cricketers to the national men's team.

In a country where people struggle to balance a lifestyle based on Islamic values and moderate liberalism, cricket remains a binding force for many but religious parties and conservatives have frowned upon women competing with men in sports ... more

Copyright 2009 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Whats your opinion?