Gender Participation in Decision Making Positions of Sport Federations

Abstract

Gender equality contributes to economic prosperity as it improves organizational effectiveness and strengthens employee organizational commitment. Over the last decades, considerable progress has been made, predominately in developed Western countries, around gender equality in education, politics, and sports. Standards about equal gender representation are normally set at all levels of governance and management. Nevertheless, the pace to reaching gender balance is rather slow. This chapter focuses on gender participation in leadership positions within sport federations. The chapter draws on relevant, generic guidelines produced by the United Nations and offers examples of two countries, which have advanced national gender equity bodies in recognition of the importance of narrowing the gender gap. This chapter broadens the understanding of (a) women's participation in managing sport organizations, (b) women's barriers to taking up decision making positions, (c) strategies that Olympic Movement bodies adopt to address the challenge of gender equality in key sport managerial positions, (d) the role of higher education in promoting gender equality, and (e) existing networking support and training for women to enter the boards of sport organizations. The chapter concludes with recommendations in planning and implementing strategies and techniques to address gender equality in sport decision making positions.