Introduction

Physical Education is assuming a greater role in the social system of the nations all over the world. Its importance has been widely accepted as it inculcates responsibility and leadership qualities among youth in a democratic society. Comparatively Health & Physical Education is new academic discipline in Pakistan and Sport psychology has emerged as one of the important courses being taught in academics at colleges and universities. Richard Cox (2002) cited in Encyclopedia of Psychology has rightly viewed sport and exercise as a vehicle for human enrichment. It is argued that one can investigate various trends of Physical Education that contribute their resources to the maximum in helping an individual to achieve a fuller growth and desired performance in physical activity. It also explores dominant factors that play a vital role in the development of attitudes of the youth that help immensely in the promotion of national integration (Carron, A. 1980)

In view of the changing trends in respect of modernizing physical education, this paper has been prepared as an attempt to divert the attention of the society towards female sport participation, as it exists in different colleges of the capital cities of Pakistan and the provinces such as, Islamabad (Pakistan), Karachi (Sindh), Lahore (Punjab), Quetta (Balouchistan) and Peshawar (NWFP) to give Physical Education a professional meaning for the integration and total development of girl's personality. It refers to categories of people who share an economic position in society based on a combination of their income, wealth, education, occupation, and social connections.

Considering the importance of sports Values and attitudes, the social class differentiation based on the sports participation has been examined

through their family background information, collected from sports participants regarding their socio-economic-status such as parent occupation, family structures (Joint nucleus) hobbies, personal interest, parent's education, residential area and maternal attitude towards sports. Earlier, no attempt has been made to study such a problem in Pakistan.

In most of the tradition-bound societies of South Asia, number of widely held beliefs, though scientifically inaccurate, might compel parents discouraging their daughters to participate in sports. However, the fact remains that societal dogmas make the task of coaches quite difficult in Pakistan, largely because of some widely held beliefs include that strenuous physical activity will harm the delicate female reproductive system; women athletes are genetically and physically freak (Coakley J 2001); region doesn't permit a Muslim girl to participate in competitive sports; female participating in competitive sports eventually loses their femininity, and girls should be oriented towards the traditional role of becoming housewives (7»'di, S. 1975). The main concentration of this research work is to is to explore the ideal personality traits of college girl-students (Item-level analysis); identify social class belongingness of girls sport participants in the colleges of the capital cities of Pakistan.

Methodology:

In analyzing the sports culture of Pakistan mainly relating to social class differences in sport participation among female college students of five capitals cities of the Pakistan and the provinces were selected where girls participation in sports competitions at various Boards and Universities is comparatively higher than other cities. The research was conducted by personal visits and interviews to assess socio-cultural, conditions of these cities and through various questionnaires administered on the sample of 500 girls of different colleges of these five capital cities, selected randomly and administered among middle and working class family students to collect viable data largely through Personal Information Questionnaire (PIQ), and Adjective Check List (ACL) and also receiving reasonably good guidance from available literature of Euro-American physical educationalists related to this work ever conducted in Pakistan. The libraries of the Universities of Karachi, Punjab, Sindh and the seminar library of my own Centre for Health & Physical Education at University of Sindh, Jamshoro were very useful in the enrichment of the resources concerning this study.

SAMPLE

The sample of 500 college girls sport participants were selected randomly from the following Five capital cities belonging to middle class and working class families as under:

 

Table-1

City wise classification of the samples

Capital Cities of provinces	Middle Class N=250	Working Class N=250	Total N-500
Karachi	60	60	120
Lahore	70	70	140
Quetta	40	40	80
Peshawar	40	40	80
Islamabad	40	40	80
Total	250	250	500

RESULTS OF THE STUDY

Note:- Personal Information Questionnaire (PIQ) was administered to college girl students, selected randomly from capital cities understudy to measure the background characteristics of sport participants such as age, education, socio-economic status, and place of birth.

 

Table 2

Characteristics of Sport participants of Karachi City

Background Characteristics	Middle Class (N=60)		Working Class (N=60)
1. Education	f		f
First Year	10	16.6	30	50
Second Year	17	28.3	20	33.3
B.A / B.Sc	33	55	10	16.6
2. Place of Birth
Rural	5	8.3	02	3.3
Urban	55	91.6	58	96.6
3. Participation from academic class:
Vm_Metric	20	33.3	32	53.3
Intermediate	16	@ 26.6	20	33.3
B.A / B.Sc	24	40	8	13.3
4. Encouragement from family / parents
Yes	28	46.6	45	75
No	32	53.3	15	25

 

Four important characteristics according to the requirement of research were selected to examine the education wise participation in sports, area wise participations, involvement in sports from particular academic class and encouragement of parents.

The percentage indicates that the parents belonging to working class encourage their daughters more as compared to middle class. The ratio of the participation of middle class at B.A / B.Sc level is higher than working class; it is observed that due to financial weakness they could not send their daughters for higher education. The scores of middle class participation in sports from rural area are higher than working class. This shows the awareness of sports activities of the middle class families belonging to rural areas, whereas the scores of working class families belong to urban areas showed their interest in sports higher than middle class participants.

Note: 50% or More Endorsements of the Middle and Working class female college students on adjective check list (ACL) has been obtained to analyze the results of all capital cities of Pakistan under study:-

 

(Table-3) Karachi City

Sr.	Adjective	Middle Class N=60		Working Class N=60
		F	%	f	%
1	Adaptable	45	75	59	98.3
2	Affectionate	40	66.6	58	96.7
3	Ambitious	58	96.7	40	66.6
4	Attractive	54	90	45	75.3
5	Autocratic	56	93.3	45	75
6	Active	20	33.3	38	63.3
7	Capable	50	83.3	40	66.6
8	Civilized	58	96.7	45	75
9	Confident	44	73.3	57	95
10	Co-operative	54	90.3	56	93.3
11	Demanding	50	83.3	35	58.3
12	Determined	47	78.3	59	98.3
13	Energetic	45	75	55	91.7
14	Enthusiastic	52	86.7	40	66.6
15	Foresighted	30	50	55	91.7
16	Forgiving	52	86.6	55	91.7
17	Generous	47	78.3	45	75
18	Helpful	50	83.3	57	95
19	Hopeful	45	75	57	95
20	Intelligent	57	95	40	66.6
21	Initiative	45	75	57	95
22	Mature	56	93.3	59	9P.3
23	Persistent	58	96.7	50	83.3
24	Practical	51	85	56	93.3
25	Planful	38	63.3	50	83.3
26	responsible	56	93.3	59	98.3
27	Self confident	58	96.7	45	75
28	Straight forward	45	75.3	54	90
29	Strong	30	50	56	93.3
30	Un-excitable	31	51.7	45	75

 

Out of 30 adjectives, the perception of the respondents of both groups are more or less simi­lar on given adjectives, but in some adjectives we find clear difference of opinion such as ac­tive, confident, determined, foresighted, and strong. The scores of working class are higher than middle class sport participants. Where as middle class focus more on autocratic, ambitious, intelligent, and responsible. This analysis pro­vide meaningful basis for comparison with both classes, which will be helpful for coaches to train the athletes considering their psychological per­ceptions

Table - 4

Background Characteristics of Sport participants of Lahore City

Background Characteristics	Middle Class		Working Class
	N=70		N=70
1   Education	f	%	f	%
First Year	25	35.7	33	47.1
Second Year	30	42.8	30	42.8
B.A/B.Sc	15	21.4	07	IO
2   Place of Birth
Rural	10	14.2	4	5.7
Urban	60	85.7	64	91.4
3   Participation from academic class:-
VIII-Matric	30     42.8		40	57.1
Intermediate	25     35.7		27	38.5
B.A/B.Sc	15    21.43		3	4.2
4   Encouragement from family / parents
Yes	50	71.4	65	92.8
No	20	28.5	5	7.1

 

 

 

Table 3 shows the percentage scores 'of the respondents on given characteristics, approve that working class sport participants are more involved in sporting activities as compared to middle class participants.

The percentage indicates that the parents be­long to working class families encourage their daughters more as compared to middle class families. Further the participants of middle class families start sports activities from schools whereas the working class participants show their involvement from college level, where facilities are available to attract them.

The same adjective check list was also provided to Lahore based girls under study and they responded as under:

 

Table-5 (Lahore City)

Sr.	Adjectives	Middle Class N=70		Working Class N=70
		f	%	f	%
1	Adaptable	55	78.5	66	94.2
2	Affectionate	64	91.4	52	74.2
3	Ambitious	60	85.7	66	94.2
4	Attractive	64	91.4	52	74.2
5	Autocratic	68	97.1	40	57.1
6	Active	55	78.5	66	94.2
7	Capable	45	64.2	50	71.4
8	Civilized	66	94.2	60	85.7
9	Confident	64	91.4	66	94.2
10	Co-operative	50	71.4	66	94.2
11	Demanding	68	97.1	45	64.2
12	Determined	68	97.1	60	85.7
13	Energetic	40	57.1 ,	68	97.1
14	Enthusiastic	64	91.4	52	74.2
15	Foresighted	50	71.4	66	94.2
16	Forgiving	50	71.4	60	85.7
17	Generous	40	57.1	64	91.4
18	Helpful	55	78.5	66	94.2
19	Hopeful	65	92.8;	50	71.4
20	Intelligent	60	85.7 ; ,	40	57.1
21	Initiative	64	91.4	45	64.2
22	Mature	60	85.7'	66	94.2
23	Persistent	40	57.1	60	85.7
24	Practical	60	85.7	66	94.2
25	Planful	64	91.4	58	82.8
26	Responsible	50	71.4	66	94.2
27	Self confident	60	85.7	64	91.4
28	Straight forward	64	91.4	68	97.1
29	Strong	45	64.2	69	98.5
30	Un-excitable	64	91.4	40	57.1

Table 4 shows the difference of opinion on many of the adjectives between middle and working class sport participants, such as on adjectives-autocratic, demanding, intelligent and initiative. The middle class scored higher whereas on adjectives-active, energetic, cooperative and strong working class scored higher. It was also found that some adjectives socially disapproved in Pakistani society, the middle class has indicated more clearly than the working class. That shows the difference of attitude between the two groups involved in same activity. In the light of the perceptions of both groups, coach has to provide emotional and informational minnnrt in Fithletes for their well-being, motivation and performance.

The 40 college girls each from Middle and Working class were selected randomly and administered the same (PIQ), and they responded as under:

 

Table-6

Background Characteristics of Sport participants of Quetta City

	Background Cliaracteristics	Middle Class		Working Class
		N=40		N=40
1	Education	f	%	f	%
	First Year	19	47.5	26	65
	Second Year	16	40	12	30
	B.A/B.Sc	05	12.5	02	5
2   Place of Birth
Rural		4	10	2	5
Urban		36	90	38	95
3   Participation from academic class:-
VIII-Metric		14	35	31	77.5
Intermediate		17	42.5	07	17.5
B.A/ B.Sc		09	22.5	02	5
4   Encouragement from family parents
Yes		12	'30	22	55
No		28	70	18	45

 

Table 5 indicates that the ratio of the participants of both groups at Degree level is very low. 13 While discussion with Director Sports informed that most of the girls coming from rural areas rarely attend classes and parents do not encourage them to participate in sports activities. The girls belonging to middle class start playing games when they reach B.A/ B.Sc level, whereas the working class participants start sports activities from Matric class.

The forty number of female college students each from Middle and working clad were provided the same ACL and they responded as under:

 

Table-7 (Quetta City)

Adjective Check List of Quetta City.

Sr.	Adjectives	Middle Class N=40		Working Class N=40
		F	%	f	%
1	Adaptable	39	97.5	25	62.5
2	Affectionate	33	82.5	39	97.5
3	Ambitious	38	95	20	50
4	Attractive	36	90	20	50
5	Autocratic	34	85	28	70
6	Active	25	62.5	39	97.5
7	Capable	35	87.5	24	60
8	Civilized	30	75.5	32	80
9	Confident	32	80	34	85
10	Co-operative	28	70	33	82.5
11	Demanding	33	82.5	19	47.5
12	Determined	39	97.5	38	95
13	Energetic	30	75	34	85
14	Enthusiastic	34	85	20	50
15	Foresighted	19	47.5	38	95
16	Forgiving	25	62.5	30	"4775
17	Generous	20	50	28	70
18	Helpful	32	80	34	85
19	Hopeful	17	4.2.5	28	70
20	Intelligent	21	5:2.5	29	72.5
21	Initiative	20	50	28	70
22	Mature	37	92.5	25	62.5
23	Persistent	34	85	28	70
24	Practical	32	80	36	90
25	Planful	24	60	36	90
26	responsible	30	75	38	95
27	Self confident	23	57.5	28	70
28	Straight forward	37	92.5	36	90
29	Strong	35	87.5	39	97.5
30	Un-excitable	19	47.5	35	87.5

 

Table 6 shows that the working class endorsed more on adjectives such as active, energetic and strong whereas middle class girls emphasize on autocratic, attractive, confident, demanding, enthusiastic and mature. The objective to collect the data on these adjectives was to understand the feelings and thinking of the athlete to develop effective coordination between perceptions of the athlete and the coach, so that coach may train them considering their potential, agility, aptitude and providing them social and psychological support.

The same number of respondents were approached belongings to both classes of society and their response was as under:

Table-8 (Peshawar City)

Background Characteristics of Sport participants of Peshawar City

	Background Characteristics	Middle Class N=40		Working Class N=40
1	Education	f	%	f	%
	First Year Second Year B.A/B.Sc	03 13 24	7.5 32.5 60	10 18 12	25 45 30
2   Place of Birth
	Rural Urban	10 30	25 75	07 33	17.5 82.5
3   Participation from academic class
	VIII-Matric Intermediate B.A/B.Sc	23 11 6	57.5 27.51 15	28 08 04	70 20 10
4   Encouragement from family / parents
	Yes No	23 17	57.5 42.5	15 25	37.50 62.50

 

Table 7 shows the maximum number, of sport participation at B.A/ B.Sc level in both groups. The participation in sports from rural areas is lower as compared to urban area, which clearly indicates that parent belonging to middle class families encouraging their daughters more as compared to working class in Peshawar. The re­sults verify that middle class families are more involved towards sports activities than working class.

The same number of college girls from middle and working class families responded to the adjectives as under:

 

Table-9 (Peshawar City)

Sr.	Adjectives	Middle Class N=40		Working Class N=40
		f	%	f	%
1	Adaptable	32	80	36	90
2	Affectionate	25	62.5	37	92.5
3	Ambitious	38	95	20	50
4	Attractive	38	95	35	87.5
5	Autocratic	35	87.5	25	62.5
6	Active	26	65	39	97.5
7	Capable	34	85	24	60
8	Civilized	33	82.5	26	65
9	Confident	38	95	31	77.5
10	Co-operative	20	50	38	95
11	Demanding	36	90	20	50
12	Determined	29	72.5	35	87.5
13	Energetic	30	75	36	90
14	Enthusiastic	21	52.5	38	95
15	Foresighted	16	40	36	90
16	Forgiving	24	60	32	80
17	Generous	18	45	32	80
18	Helpful	26	65	36	90
19	Hopeful	32	80	35	87.5
20	Intelligent	36	90	28	90
21	Initiative	23	57.5	38	95
22	Mature	38	95	33	82.5
23	Persistent	31	77.5	32	80
24	Practical	28	60	38	95
25	Planful	34	85	20	50
26	Responsible	30	75	37	92.5
27	Self confident	26	65	39	97.5
28	Straight forward	34	85	38	95
29	Strong	30	75	36	90
30	Un-excitable	14	35	29	72.5

 

Table 8 indicates the higher scores of middle class on adjectives adaptable, affectionate, autocratic, ambitious, attractive, confident, demanding and stable whereas working class focus more on adjectives enthusiastic, foresighted, generous, strong and un-excitable. Thus, it is necessary for coach to learn about the perceptions of each athlete: how she interacts and responds to the environment and differs in terms of their personalities. By understanding these important factors she will be better prepared to understand how anxiety and mood affect athletic performance; how various cognitive and behavioral interventions can modify an athlete's mood..

The same number of college girls from middle and working class families of Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan was administrated and their response to the given adjectives as under

 

Table-10 (Islamabad City)

Background Characteristics of Sport participants of Islamabad City

	Background Characteristics	Middle Class N=40		Working Class N=40
1.	Education	f	%	f    |    %
	First Year	20	50	22   |    55
	Second Year	12	30	14	35
	B.A/B.Sc	8	20	4	10
2    Place of Birth
	Rural	06	15	02   '    05
	Urban	34	85	38        95
3    Participation from academic class
	VIII-Matric	12	30	30	75
	Intermediate	23	57.5	07	17.5
	B.A/B.Sc	05	12.5	03	7.5
4    Encouragement from family / parents
	Yes	20	50	37	92.5
	No	20	50	03	7.5

 

Table 09 shows the class wise ratio of participation in sports of both groups is more or less the same. The participation score belonging to rural area of middle class is higher as compared to working class; As far as urban area is concerned both groups have similarity in sport participations. The percentage score also shows that working class girls are participating in sports from schools whereas middle class girls start playing games from college level. The percentage ratio of the families of working class encourage their daughters is higher as compared to middle class.

The same number of college girls from middle and working class families in Pakistan's capital city Islamabad, responded to the adjectives as under:

 

Table-11 (Islamabad City)

Sr.	Adjectives	Middle Class N=40		Working Class N=40
		f	%	f	%
1	Adaptable	29	72.5	27	67.5
2	Affectionate	20	50	37	92.5
3	Ambitious	37	92.5	25	62.5
4	Attractive	28	70	30	75
5	Autocratic	35	87.5	19	47.5
6	Active	19	47.5	36	90
7	Capable	36	90	25	62.5
8	Civilized	34	85	28	70
9	Confident	38	95	30	75
10	Co-operative	34	85	36	90
11	Demanding	34	85	20	50
12	Determined	39	97.5	38	95
13	Energetic	20	50	39	97.5
14	Enthusiastic	38	95	24	60
15	Foresighted	19	47.5	36	90
16	Forgiving	20	50	38	95
17	Generous	29	72.5	27	67.5
18	Helpful	28	70	33	82.5
19	Hopeful	37	92.5	34	85
20	Intelligent	35	87.5	28	70
21	Initiative	36	90	24	60
22	Mature	37	92.5	32	80
23	Persistent	25	62.5	29	72.5
24	Practical	30	75.	28	70
25	Planful	28	70	32	80
26	Responsible	35	87.5	36	90
27	Self confident	37	92.5	35	87.5
28	Straightforward	34	85	29	72.5
29	Strong	17	42.5	39	97.5
30	Un-excitable	20	50	36	90

 

Table 10 shows that the opinions of both groups on most of the adjectives are very similar. On some adjectives such as autocratic, demanding, enthusiastic and initiative, the percentage scores of middle class are higher whereas the working class considers more on adjectives energetic, foresighted. active and strong. These responses enable the coach to understand each athlete's perceptions while participating in the competitive sports that how much they like playing for the team (individual attraction) and how well they feel the team functions as a unit (group integration), coach may also measure the meaningful relationship between team cohesion and team or individual behavior.

Conclusion

On the basis of the results it was found that the sport particulars belonging to working class families in the capital cities of Pakistan and the provinces are hardworking, industrious, strong and determined as compared to middle class sport participants. The study clearly shows that sport participants of both classes need attention of parents and the educational institutions towards sports activities, and desire for adequate incentive on their achievements during competitions. The sense of realization and responses of the girls of both middle and working class sport participants were more or less have the same views, therefore, it was assessed that social class differences do not make any considerable obstacle on their perceptions as expressed by the female participants. Thus, it confirms that the female college students irrespective of social class belongingness tend to perceive greater amount of ideal characteristics in the ideal self.

Further, it was found that the sport participants are more affectionate, smart, and socially strong in tackling the affairs of the society and possess comparatively better societal understanding, predicting, communicating and controlling individual as well as collective behavior of women in the society as compared to non-sport participants. The studies and reports of the physical educationists have verified, to great extent, that physiological problem expressed were mainly on whims and lack of adequate information about women's health care. The women of 21 s' century are participating more in sports and engaging themselves in various physical activities for maintaining the effective physiological responses to bring laurels for Themselves and for the nation, and by enlarge lead to a happy domestic social life.

Exercise can promote physical as well as Psychological stability in women of all ages and make them more physically fit, agile, active and confident than non-athletes. Many studies have shown the importance of regular exercise, and women who exercise at least 4 hours a week reduce their risk of contracting pre-menopausal and breast cancer by 50 and women who exercise 2-3 hours a week reduce their risk by 30. The girls who participate in sports and fitness programs are healthier and have higher self-esteem.

 

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