Gender Bias in the Perception of Women as Collegiate Men's Basketball Coaches

Abstract

This study investigates the potential impact of gender-role attitudes and gender-role congruity on the gaps in research regarding the perceived ability of women to coach men. An online instrument was sent via email to 236 students recruited from an introductory to sport management course at a large public institution in the Southeast. Based on previous studies, this study sought to test whether gender alone would influence the hiring recommendation, perceptions of job-fit, and the perceived capability of female applicants for coaching positions in men's college basketball. In examining the role of gender as a predictor on job applicants' capability, job-fit, and hiring recommendation for a men's basketball coaching position, findings revealed significant differences only on hiring recommendation. The primary findings revealed that despite perceptions of more than capable abilities and job-fit, women would still be offered a men's college basketball coaching job less often than men.