Research on Gender Equity in Sports Management
The imbalance in mid-tier and executive roles points to a need for more research on gender equity, leadership barriers, and workplace culture in sports. There’s a strong opportunity for further research on leadership development, mentorship, and the impact of organizational culture on women’s career progression.
Curriculum Development for Diversity and Inclusion
With gender disparities in leadership, it’s crucial to integrate DEI topics into sport management curricula. Courses should include case studies, research, and discussions around gender dynamics and strategies to foster more inclusive environments.
Mentoring Women Students
Women are well-represented in entry-level roles but face challenges in advancing. Educators should mentor female students, connect them with professional organizations (e.g., Women Leaders in Sports), and provide guidance on leadership and career development.
Develop Leadership Programs
There is a clear need for leadership programs to prepare women and underrepresented groups for senior roles. Collaboration between academic and athletic departments can create workshops, internships, and mentoring opportunities that build essential skills for leadership.
Addressing Cultural and Structural Barriers
The drop in women’s representation from entry-level to executive roles signals structural barriers like bias and lack of sponsorship. Research on these factors can inform policies that create more equitable career pathways.
Engage All Students and Faculty
Both men and women must be engaged in gender equity efforts. Educators should encourage male students to become allies by addressing unconscious bias and promoting inclusive hiring practices.
Empowering Future Change Agents
Integrating social justice and leadership development into curricula can inspire students to become advocates for change and help create more inclusive environments in their future careers.
Creating Partnerships
Academic and athletic departments should collaborate to address gender diversity gaps by developing leadership programs, internships, and research initiatives. Partnerships with community sports organizations can also help advance women in the broader sports industry.
The Pipeline Project 