Gender and cultural diversity in sport organisations

Abstract

A diversity audit is used to profile gender and cultural diversity in selected Australian community sport clubs. The assessment aims to create a better understanding of sport and cultural diversity and provide the data to facilitate awareness of these issues in sport. The present study focussed on five team sports and their associated community clubs. Fifty clubs were surveyed about their policies, practices and attitudes to gender and cultural diversity. To complement this information interviews were undertaken with ten club officials and thirty-seven players to gain their perspective on the issues at hand. The data revealed that most clubs were aware of gender considerations and were actively trying to increase female participation across all dimensions of club activity from players to broad members. However, very few clubs had explicitly addressed aspects of cultural diversity and increasing diversity was not given a high priority. In a country with a high level of cultural diversity such attitudes and approaches seem incongruous with progress. Inclusion of cultural and gender diversity offers sporting organisations a broader mixture of players, volunteers and employees and increased stakeholder benefits.