Quotas in sport management make gender equality initiatives more common: the case of Spain

Abstract

ABSTRACT Research question How do gender quotas transform sport management, beyond increasing the proportion of women among sport managers? Building on findings from the literature on quotas in sport management, this article asks whether quotas make gender equality initiatives more common. This research question fills a research gap, since the aforementioned literature is based principally on the case of Norway. Research methods This article analyzes the impact of the 2014 gender quota imposed for boards of national sport federations in Spain (of at least three women or 33% of board members) with the help of interviews with a purposive sample of 86 board members (43 women and 43 men) comprising 66% of national sport federations. Results and findings This study shows that the Spanish quota made gender equality initiatives more common. Implications To scholars and sport managers alike, this article provides a tool to understand change in sport organizations once quotas are adopted.