Women in Sports Management

Paper Summary:

This paper assesses whether there still remains a "glass ceiling" for women in regards to sports management positions. Specifically, the paper looks at the roles of women in current management positions, the numbers of women that have achieved these positions in both the professional and intercollegiate leagues and the significance of the increases in women's positions within sports. The paper takes the position that although there has been evidence showing great strides for women in this industry, women remain under-represented, with jobs possibly even declining in intercollegiate athletics. Thus, specific guidelines should be required to ensure that equal opportunity is available for women.

From the Paper:

"Furthermore, at the collegiate level, the number of women in sports management positions has actually declined in recent years. According to Cunningham and Sagas (2004), following the inception of Title IX in 1972 (which prohibited sex discrimination in schools thereby enhancing the funding provided to women's teams), the number of women in leadership positions in collegiate athletics (e.g., coaching and administration) has dramatically decreased. These authors emphasize that at the amateur level, 'Women essentially have been squeezed out of key leadership positions over this time frame. When Title IX was enacted, a female administrator directed over 90% of women's athletic programs. However, by 1984, 31.6% of all collegiate programs did not employ any women in athletics administrator positions' (p. 411). While the most recent reports indicate a slight increase in the number of women in sports management positions at the collegiate level, almost 20 percent of all collegiate athletic programs still do not employ any women in their administrative structures (Cunningham & Sagas, 2004)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cunningham, G. B. & Sagas, M. (2004). Does having 'The Right Stuff' matter? Gender differences in the determinants of career success among intercollegiate athletic administrators. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 50(5-6), 411.
• Feehan, J. (2006, April 28). Women in sports: Dream big. The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), D1.
• Watt, D. C. (2003). Sports management and administration. New York: Routledge.

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