ABSTRACT
As we celebrate the continued advancement of girls’ and women’s participation in sport, we are reminded that women are not equally represented in leadership positions in sport organizations. This chapter opens with a discussion of the leadership labyrinth to call attention to the difficult maze women must navigate to reach leadership in sport organizations. The remainder of the chapter details current research based on a multi-level framework to help understand why women are under-represented in sport leadership. Beginning at the sociocultural (macro) level in the United States, sport is recognized as a gendered institution, where all processes in sport operate within a shared understanding of sport as masculine. Next, at the organizational (meso) level it is important to understand that the practice of gender within organizations contributes to gender inequity and disparity, including in governance, policies, and other organizational operations. Finally, the individual (micro) level of analysis examines how individuals understand and make meaning of their expectations, experiences, and understanding of power, policies, and procedures operating at the organizational level. Work at the micro-level helps explain how biases and stereotypes impact an individual person’s behaviors. The chapter ends by highlighting key takeaways to support more women in sport leadership.
