Addressing Gender Equality in Sport

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.

Introduction: Gender equality in sports remains a structural challenge across institutional, social, and cultural dimensions. In Ecuador, women athletes continue to face barriers related to access, visibility, and recognition. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the dynamics of inequality and discrimination in Ecuadorian sports from a gender equality rights perspective, in order to identify structural barriers, evaluate institutional policies, and propose inclusive strategies. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive-correlational design was used. The population consisted of 348 participants (athletes, coaches, and sports officials). A validated questionnaire was applied, and descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation, and Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted. Results: Findings showed that women reported higher perceptions of inequality in access to resources, leadership roles, and media coverage. 58% of female respondents experienced discriminatory situations. Most participants were unaware of institutional protocols against gender-based violence. Significant differences were found by gender and professional role. Discussion: The results aligned with previous studies indicating the persistence of patriarchal structures in sports. The study highlighted the need for effective implementation of existing policies and gender-focused training programs. Conclusions: Although legal progress has been made, achieving real gender equality in Ecuadorian sports requires structural transformation. This study offers empirical insights for the design of sports policies grounded in human rights and gender equity.

This study aims to explore the influence of cultural perceptions regarding gender equality on the participation of female athletes in sports. The type of research used is quantitative with a survey approach. The population in this study were female athletes who are active in various sports in Indonesia, and the sample consisted of 150 respondents who were selected randomly. The research instrument was a questionnaire that measured cultural perceptions and the level of participation of female athletes. The data analysis technique was carried out through linear regression analysis to test the relationship between variables. The results showed that cultural perceptions regarding gender equality had a positive and significant effect on the participation of female athletes, with a significance value of 0.000. As much as 39.3% of the variability in female athlete participation can be explained by cultural perceptions, while the rest is influenced by other factors such as social support and access to sports facilities. This study concludes that changes in cultural perceptions can encourage greater participation of female athletes in sports. To achieve this goal, collaboration is needed between various parties, including the government, sports organizations, and the media, to create an environment that supports gender equality in sports.

In this article, we explore how sport fan practices can advance feminist aims and gender equity in sport contexts. Using a matricentric feminist perspective and thematic analysis of 19 in-depth interviews with mothers from Australia and North America, we examine the social and political dimensions of mother fans’ actions when responding to gender disparities in sport systems and cultures. We identify several ways in which mothers practiced a commitment to gender equity and social justice in their everyday sport fandom, including advocating for women’s sport; critiquing exclusionary and harmful sport cultures; and challenging the gendering of care labour while watching sport. By looking beyond instances of public activism by sport fans, this study develops new sociological and feminist insights about the political potential of matricentric activism to support gender justice through sport participation, as well as calling for greater recognition of sport as a social site for maternal empowerment.

Gender Equality in Sport

Claudio Tamburrini and Torbjorn Tannsjo begin their radical and radically inegalitarian chapter in this volume with the claim that ‘sexual discrimination is a widespread and recalcitrant phenomenon. However, in Western societies, explicit sexual discrimination, when exposed, is seldom defended straightforwardly’ (p. 181). They suggest that the fact that there are ‘women’s’ sports and ‘male’ sports is one of the ways in which sexual discrimination is ‘defended straightforwardly’. They argue that, if we believe in equality, we should also believe that men and women should ‘compete against one another on equal terms on sport arenas’ (p. 181).

Despite recent advances in women’s sport in Portugal, coaching remains a highly gendered domain in which women continue to be underrepresented in leadership positions. Understanding the barriers that constrain women’s coaching careers is therefore essential for advancing gender equality in sport. This study aimed to validate the Barriers to Sports Coaching Questionnaire for Women (BSCQW) for the Portuguese sport context. Following a translation and cultural adaptation process, data were collected from a sample of 660 Portuguese women coaches representing a wide range of sports and competitive levels. A formative measurement approach was adopted and assessed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. The results demonstrated acceptable collinearity among indicators and meaningful contributions of organizational, sociocultural, intrapersonal, and interpersonal barriers to their respective constructs. The sociocultural barriers construct was refined by removing one item due to limited relevance in the Portuguese context, resulting in a more parsimonious model while preserving theoretical coverage. Overall, the findings supported the validity and contextual adequacy of the BSCQW Portuguese version. This instrument provides a robust and practical tool for researchers, sport organizations, coach education programs, and policymakers to identify the barriers faced by women coaches, thereby informing initiatives to support women’s coaching careers in Portugal.

The perception of football as a male-dominated sport by society, coupled with the socio-cultural and economic barriers faced by women, has constrained their presence in the domain of football and revealed the manifestation of gender norms within the sport. This exclusion further masculinizes sport, negatively affecting social unity and cohesion, and deepening inequality within sport. Within this context, the study seeks to reveal how football fans perceive female and male referees through metaphorical representations. Participants, selected using purposive sampling, are individuals who regularly attend football matches and have experience watching games officiated by female football referees. The research employed a phenomenological approach to analyse metaphors generated by 352 football fans regarding female and male referees. Data were collected online through the Google Forms platform, which was accessible only to the researcher via password-protected access. During the analysis process, metaphors were coded, categorized, and transformed into meaningful interpretative formats. Results indicate that female referees are predominantly described with metaphors associated with sexist objectification, such as "flower", "rose", and "queen." Female referees are represented by social roles and stereotypes metaphors like "mother," and "gold," yet they are also confronted with violence and disparaging metaphors such as "trash" and "chaos." Conversely, male referees are perceived through metaphors evoking strength, toughness, and authority, including "lion", "stone", "authority", "king", and "leader." These metaphorical representations highlight the persistence of gender norms within sport, demonstrating how women's professional competencies are overshadowed by societal codes. Moreover, they are depicted as figures of power and discipline, reflecting masculinity within the sporting context. Ultimately, the research seeks to raise awareness about gender-based perceptions and foster transformation towards greater gender equality in sport.

Introduction. The issue of gender equality in sport is multidimensional, requiring a variety of research, drafting relevant legislation and regulations, and training professionals to work at different levels, educated on gender issues. Meanwhile, the key issue for the topic of the formation of a modern system of training athletes, taking into account the culture of gender relations remains insufficiently elaborated at the level of theory in Ukraine, although it must preempt, direct the actions of various practitioners who are otherwise compelled to act, based on foreign experience and sound experience. Research purpose. Substantiation of the need and consideration of gender in the system of sports training in Ukraine. Research methods and materials. The complex of methods of theoretical research (generalization of literature, materials from the Internet, content of previous own scientific developments, abstraction, idealization, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction), as well as questioning on the developed author's questionnaire were used. As a result of the coaches' survey, 62 correctly completed questionnaires were obtained. Results. The stage of gender socialization in adulthood facilitates the revision of norms and patterns of genderrelated behavior and some adjustment of personality traits, but the formation of personality traits in a particular activity continues. In adulthood, masculine sports contribute to increasing courage, firmness, and self-control in women; increasing dominance, self-control, and reducing anxiety in men. Feminine species contribute to women's decline in dominance, increasing anxiety, non-conformism, increasing stereotypical views on qualities inherent in men and women in society; whereas men develop straightforwardness and emotional stability. It is known that the general fundamentals of sports training, presented by the theory of sport, are common to men and women. However, some factors, such as socio-psychological, as well as the characteristics of women's body make some conditioning in their training. It is therefore very important, when preparing national and regional programs aimed at the development of physical culture and sports, to take into account not only age, but also gender, as a guarantee of ensuring the prerequisites for creating equal opportunities for access to sports and fair distribution of public funds for this sphere of life society. Conclusions. 1. The gender components of sport theory, which carry information about the real processes of socio-sexual relations in the field of sport, are now the result of extrapolation of the basic provisions of general gender science to sport theory and thus are included in the structure of sport theory. However, the problem of the direct transposition of gender perspectives into the field of sport only indicates that there is an objective need to gain new knowledge at the frontier of general gender and to study gender-specific sport issues. 2. Due to the variety of forms of exercise, the sport sector needs further exploration for optimal implementation of the gender approach, including conducting gender studies to address existing social and socio-psychological problems. Yes, there is a gender disparity issue with gender roles chosen by women in sports, and this can create conflicting life situations that go beyond the professional responsibilities of coaches. The principle of taking into account the sociogender identity of a person is poorly taken into account in sport, as evidenced by the opening up of opportunities for women to engage in almost all masculine sports, because at present the concepts of implementation of this principle in sport have not been developed or implemented. 3. Therefore, there is a societal need, both for continued research and for qualified specialists trained in the gender components of sports theory and practice, who are able to apply this knowledge to the development of the sports movement, as well as to improve the level of knowledge of students in specialized higher education institutions that complicated by the practical lack of software and methodological support of the educational process at the level of systematic integration of the principles of sports theory and gender in the field of sports. 4. Based on the above, in the current context, it is possible to recommend to the broad practice, which should be specified by the available exceptions (conscious personal preferences and needs of boys and girls to the selected sport), classes that are more suitable for the sex. Keywords: gender, athlete's personality, gender aspect in the system of sports training, masculinity, femininity, antagonistic sports, synergistic sports, autonomous sports.

Paying the way: The ticket to gender equality in sports

Intrinsic motivation, which is the inner drive that motivates individuals to engage in various activities across different domains, plays a crucial role in shaping performance, especially in sports like softball. This study explores the complex interplay between gender, intrinsic motivation, and softball skills among university students. Using quantitative research methods and an ex-post facto design, this research provides valuable insights into the comparison of intrinsic motivation (interest, enjoyment, and personal challenge) and softball skills based on gender. The results reveal significant gender-based disparities in softball skills, highlighting the need for tailored interventions to promote gender equality in sports. Interestingly, despite differences in skills, the levels of intrinsic motivation encompassing interest, enjoyment, and personal challenge remain consistent across genders, emphasizing the universal appeal of intrinsic motivation in sports. Additionally, the study employed two distinct instruments: the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS) to assess intrinsic motivation and the O'Donnell Softball Test to measure softball skills. This research underscores the potential of sports programs to leverage these shared motivational factors to improve performance and engagement. It offers valuable insights into the diverse world of sports participation, providing a promising path for more inclusive and effective sports programs in the university environment, with a focus on promoting equality and excellence in sports participation.

Despite a clear mandate for addressing gender equality in climate policy and action, gender considerations tend to be sidelined or watered down at national/program levels. The Green Climate Fund is well placed to help bridge this gap and contribute toward a global vision to address gender equality and women's empowerment in climate policy and action. For this, the updated gender policy of the Green Climate Fund must be guided by a 'gender-responsive' approach, and hence move beyond the 'gender-sensitive' approach of the current gender policy. The objectives of the new gender policy should be two-fold: (i) advance gender equality and women's empowerment through climate change mitigation and/or adaptation actions; (ii) minimize gender-related risks and safeguard women's rights in all climate change actions. The Gender Policy and Action Plan need to be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. This will allow for clearer sets of targets and progress indicators for assessing the Fund's contribution toward enhancing gender equality and women's empowerment (SDG5).Key pointsDespite a clear mandate for addressing gender equality in climate policy and action, gender considerations tend to be sidelined or watered down at national/program levels. The Green Climate Fund is well placed to help bridge this gap and contribute toward a global vision to address gender equality and women's empowerment in climate policy and action.For this, the updated gender policy of the Green Climate Fund must be guided by a 'gender-responsive' approach, and hence move beyond the 'gender-sensitive' approach of the current gender policy.The objectives of the new gender policy should be two-fold: (i) advance gender equality and women's empowerment through climate change mitigation and/or adaptation actions; (ii) minimize gender-related risks and safeguard women's rights in all climate change actions.The Gender Policy and Action Plan need to be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. This will allow for clearer sets of targets and progress indicators for assessing the Fund's contribution toward enhancing gender equality and women's empowerment (SDG5).

The South African government implemented different legislative mechanisms in an attempt to address gender equality in the workplace, discrimination, and empowering women. To review whether there has been any progress after implementing these legislative mechanisms, this paper empirically analyzes the advancement of gender equality in the South African workplace as of 2020. It also provides an overview of different legislative mechanisms implemented by the government of South Africa as an endeavor to achieve gender equality in the workplace and equal opportunities for all regardless of gender. The main objective of this paper is to review gender equality progress in the South African workplace and a qualitative research method has been used to analyze different gender inequalities. Lastly, the paper provides an overview of gender equality analysis in different occupational levels in the South African workplace. The research shows that regardless of the South African government’s different legislative mechanisms to address gender equality, progress is still gloomy as discrimination against women in the workplace continues and the men remain dominant. The data analyses conclude that progress in addressing gender equality has been inert, delaying equal opportunities for all South Africans.

ABSTRACTSport is often described as a field containing competitive and hierarchy shaping activities. However, in Sweden and elsewhere, this field is also permeated by democratic principles where, for example, everybody has the right to participate in children’s and youth sports regardless of gender, ethnicity or physical ability. In Sweden, there are distinct objectives for gender equality, where women/girls and men/boys should ideally be treated and recognised equally. The aim of this paper is twofold: to examine how gender is enacted in the textbooks used in Swedish sports coaching and educational programmes and to identify whether any of the enactments reflect a hegemonic masculinity. The textbooks used in two of the most extensive courses arranged by the Swedish Sports Confederation, ‘The Platform’ [Plattformen] and ‘Basic Coach Education’ [Grundtränarutbildning] are in focus. The theoretical framework and methodological approach are inspired by research on sport, gender and the hegemonic masculinity thesis. In the process of analysis, the hegemonic perspective is central. During the analysis, four themes are identified as expressions of a hegemonic masculinity and, thus, as obstacles to gender equality. Firstly, the binary sex norm poses a real challenge for the implementation of gender equality because it helps to shape a hierarchy that privileges men and masculinities. Secondly and thirdly, the themes ‘puberty’ and ‘the coach’ appear to be important, in that they support and contest a gendered hierarchy. Finally, there are examples of men, like sport coaches, appearing as genderless, which is interpreted as a hegemonic acceptance of the category of men (as universal and genderless subjects). By critically illuminating these themes, the paper adds to the wider research field of sport, coaching and education programmes and the complexity of gender mainstreaming in sport.

Poultry sub sector is a privileged entry point for promoting gender equality. Gender inequalities in poultry and livestock activities are now more and more acknowledged by governments, scientists, and farmers in sub Saharan Africa. This is on the background that gender inequality has translated into loss of opportunities or potential gains on agricultural production and food security. This has been exacerbated by the fact that the progress in empowering women in agriculture and reducing gender inequality has been slow despite this realization. The paper presents an overview of the development of the indigenous chickens sector in sub Saharan Africa and its implication on addressing gender equality. The assumption is that despite the multitude of socio-economic constraints faced by women in agriculture they are capable of raising indigenous chickens for the welfare of their households, hence promoting indigenous chickens can give women a chance to control more income, reducing gender inequality. Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is critical to the success of these development goals.