Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences

Department

Sport Management

Committee Chair

Gonzalo Bravo

Committee Member

Melissa Sherfinski

Committee Member

Cheyenne Luzynski

Committee Member

Sean Bulger

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine gender imbalance at the leadership level of sport administration at National Olympic Committees (NOC), National Paralympic Committees (NPC), and National Sport Organizations (NSF) of countries members of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). Specifically, this study examined how social and human capital, socio-cultural aspects of each country, and power-based discourses affect the advancement of women’s careers at the micro, meso, and macro levels of analysis.

A total of 12 participants were selected to participate in this study. Participants were all female sport administrators holding the position of president, vice-president, or secretary-general of a NOC, NPC, or NSF representing sport organizations in seven countries. The majority were married, were former athletes, self-described as white, of European descent, and being of middle and upper-class. All 12 participants have undergraduate level degrees and most of them hold master’s degrees.

Semi-structured interviews were used to examine how similar experiences defined the careers of women in the sport industry, with thematic analysis and a Feminist Critical approach being used as the primary method for data analysis.

Findings of this investigation show that participation barriers that prevent women’s access to sport leadership roles are more prevalent at the meso-level, being influenced by both endemic sexist discourses of the sport culture as a male-dominated industry and by the socio-cultural factors that prevail in the region. Results also revealed that social class and status provide not only women with better education opportunities but also access to advance a career in sport. Thus, lack of training in sport administration and command of the English language are perceived as barriers that primarily affect women minorities. Participants prefer the merits of the female leader instead of filling quotas. Finally, participants perceived that despite the effects of the machista culture in most Latin American sport organizations, a generational change is occurring in the leadership of these organizations. The new generation of sport leaders seems to be more empathetic and show more positive attitudes toward women leading sport organizations.

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