A multidimensional critique of the Sport Canada Policy on Women in Sport and its implementation in one national sport organisation

Abstract

A multidimensional framework that purports the need to address individual, structural and cultural barriers to gender equity in sport was used as a basis for the deductive analysis of the existing Sport Canada Policy on Women in Sport and related strategies and initiatives of one National Sport Organisation (NSO) between 1986 and 2004. Structural initiatives appeared to be the main emphasis of the Women in Sport Policy, while the NSO's initiatives in response to that policy predominantly focussed on individual barriers. The analysis further revealed five key events that represented a shift in the NSO's overall gender equity strategy over the 18-year period, from an individual to a more structural perspective. One NSO initiative in particular the women's national team represented a multidimensional approach, addressing individual, structural and cultural barriers to gender equity and producing positive results for the NSO.