Feeling Second Best: Elite Women Coaches’ Experiences
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors locate the participants' narratives and their oppression within the wider sociocultural context of sport and coaching, and draw methodological and theoretical implications for an alternative approach to understand women's long standing minority status within sports leadership.
Abstract: This study centers upon accounts of master women coaches in the UK, connecting the participants’ experiences of the structural practices within the coaching profession to their feelings of being undervalued and marginalized. By going beyond previous positivist and interpretive approaches to the issue of women coaches’ underrepresentation, I locate the participants’ narratives and their oppression within the wider sociocultural context of sport. The strength of patriarchy within sport and coaching is revealed in the private lives of the coaches. Consequently, the findings provoke methodological and theoretical implications for an alternative approach to understanding women’s long standing minority status within sports leadership. Cette etude est centree sur les recits d’entraineures britanniques et relie les experiences que font les participantes des pratiques structurelles au sein de la profession d’entraineur a leurs sentiments d’etre sous-evaluees et marginalisees. En allant au-dela des approches positivistes et interpretatives anterieurement utilisees pour etudier la sous representation des femmes en coaching, je situe les recits des participantes ainsi que l’oppression qu’elles ressentent au sein du contexte socioculturel plus large du sport. Dans le sport et le coaching, la force du patriarcat est revelee dans la vie privee des entraineures. En consequence, les resultats ont des implications methodologiques et theoriques pour l’approche alternative qui permet de comprendre le statut depuis longtemps minoritaire des femmes en leadership sportif. Women’s underrepresentation in coaching has received much attention in the research literature over the recent decades. In the UK approximately 75% of all coaches are men and approximately 94% of all coaches are White (Sports Coach UK, 2007). The recent US figures from the NCAA demonstrate that White men occupy 87% of head coaching positions and 52% of such positions in all women’s teams across Divisions I, II and III (Lapchick, 2009). Only 2% of head coaching roles for men’s teams were held by White women and only 0.7% by women of color. For women’s teams, 35% of women’s teams are coached by White women and 5% by women of color (Lapchick, 2009).
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TL;DR: This article provided a multilevel examination of available scholarship that contributes to understanding why there are so few women in leadership positions within sport, including stereotyping of leaders, issues of discrimination, and gendered organizational cultures.
291 citations
13 Aug 2012
TL;DR: In this article, the complex and multidimensional barriers that affect, impede or prevent females from seeking or remaining in coaching positions, in addition to factors that support and facilitate career advancement and retention, are summarized.
Abstract: A vast amount of literature exists pertaining to female coaches at all levels of competition from around the globe. Within this article, using Brofenbrenner's ecological systems theory, the complex and multidimensional barriers that affect, impede or prevent females from seeking or remaining in coaching positions, in addition to factors that support and facilitate career advancement and retention, are summarized. Barriers and supports represented in the literature are organized from most proximal (individual) to most distal (socio-cultural) to the coach. We conclude by identifying gaps in the research. The model can be used as a reflective heuristic to educate about the numerous dynamic organizational and societal barriers and supports engaged with by female coaches. In doing so, productive coping strategies can be learned and solutions and policy changes generated in order to increase opportunities for female coaches and make the environment within which they work increasingly inclusive, positive and sup...
139 citations
Cites background from "Feeling Second Best: Elite Women Co..."
...In her line of research, Norman (2010a, 2010b, 2011) consistently documented the systematic undervaluing of female coaches’ skills, exclusion from elite positions, and not being taken seriously when in top positions....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the nearly nonexistent role of women in the male-dominated workplace of men's sports and found that the perception of gendered opportunities, male exclusive social networks, and pressures to overcompensate for being female were all strong, negative influences on the perceived opportunity of women to sustain and pursue careers in maledominated workplaces such as men's college basketball.
Abstract: Previous literature has researched the underrepresentation of women as coaches and in other leadership positions in women’s sports. This article adds to the literature by examining the nearly nonexistent role of women in the male-dominated workplace of men’s sports. Currently, women represent 42.6% of the head coaches in women’s sports while men represent 57.4% of the head coaches in women’s sports. In contrast, women represent less than 3% of the head coaches in men’s sports. This creates a double standard in which men are afforded greater coaching opportunities in both men’s and women’s sports. Conversely, coaching opportunities for women are limited in women’s sports and are mostly absent in men’s sports. Through in-depth, semistructured interviews, we explored how and why this phenomenon (i.e., the lack of women coaching in men’s college basketball) is occurring. The results suggest that the perception of gendered opportunities, maleexclusive social networks, and pressures to overcompensate for being female were all strong, negative influences on the perceived opportunity of women to sustain and pursue careers in male-dominated workplaces such as that of men’s college basketball. The literature has suggested that women have been marginalized, discriminated against, and disregarded in terms of workplace leadership positions in sports
103 citations
Cites background or result from "Feeling Second Best: Elite Women Co..."
...This double standard is supported by the proportions of women and men in the sport workplace (see Acosta & Carpenter, 2010; Norman, 2010)....
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...Norman (2010) suggests that many of the inequalities suffered by women in sport are due to the hold that ideologies associated with male hegemony have on sport....
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...Women have to go above and beyond men to prove themselves to be capable and worthy coaches (Norman, 2010)....
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...Norman (2010) explored the parallels between hegemony theory and feminist research....
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...Feminist cultural studies have suggested that sport continues to support the ideology of male hegemony through the continuous marginalizing and trivializing of women in sport (Norman, 2010)....
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate men's basketball coaches' perceptions and overall attitude toward women in the institution of men's college basketball and within the maledominated organizational culture of sport.
Abstract: Women coaching in men’s college basketball are anomalies. Whereas women occupy 58.3% of the head coaching positions for women’s college basketball teams, they possess a mere 0.01% of men’s college basketball head coaching positions (Zgonc, 2010). The purpose of this study was to investigate men’s basketball coaches’ perceptions and overall attitude toward women in the institution of men’s college basketball and within the male-dominated organizational culture of sport. In doing so, the authors provide insight of core participants (i.e., NCAA Division I men’s basketball coaches) who reinforce hypermasculine institutional norms to form impermeable cognitive institutions. Building on previous research, eight men’s basketball coaches were sampled using semistructured interviewing methods. Results suggested that men’s college basketball is hypermasculine, gender exclusive, and resistant to change. Given these findings, the authors propose sport managers should consider organizational culture and individual age...
90 citations
Cites background from "Feeling Second Best: Elite Women Co..."
..., men’s basketball coaches) we are able to advance sport research geared toward diversity and discrimination (Cunningham, 2008; Cunningham & Sagas, 2005; Sagas & Cunningham, 2005), hegemonic masculinity (Connell, 1987; Connell & Messerschmidt, 2005; Norman, 2010), and institutionalization (Greenwood, Suddaby, & Hinings, 2002; Leblebici, Salancik, Copay & King 1991; Washington & Patterson, 2011; Washington & Ventresca, 2008)....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the only Olympic-level sport which is not organized around sex segregation and found that although sex integration may be an important step towards breaking down gender hierarchies in sport without accompanying wider changes in gender norms and expectations, sex integration alone will not be enough to achieve greater gender equality in equestrian sport.
Abstract: Sex segregation is a core organising principle of most modern sports and is a key element in the marginalisation and subordination of girls and women in sport and beyond. In this article I explore the only Olympic-level sport which is not organised around sex segregation – equestrian sport – in order to consider the implications of sex integration for female participants. I draw on a study conducted on elite riders that found that although sex integration in equestrian sport does not lead to female participants being excluded from high-level competition, men continue to perform disproportionately well. This suggests that although sex integration may be an important step towards breaking down gender hierarchies in sport, without accompanying wider changes in gender norms and expectations, sex integration alone will not be enough to achieve greater gender equality in equestrian sport.
49 citations
Cites background from "Feeling Second Best: Elite Women Co..."
...Women in equestrianism are, however, disadvantaged by gender inequality, barriers to achievement at the elite levels of the sport that represent ‘subtle, insidious ideologically based oppression’ (Norman, 2010, p. 100) that goes beyond formal exclusion....
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References
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26,318 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The Nature of Qualitative Inquiry Theoretical Orientations Particularly Appropriate Qualitative Applications as mentioned in this paper, and Qualitative Interviewing: Qualitative Analysis and Interpretation Enhancing the quality and credibility of qualitative analysis and interpretation.
22,714 citations
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01 Jan 1967
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors reviewed the literature and conduct ethical studies in social research and the politics of social research in the context of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, and concluded that the need for qualitative and quantitative data is critical for social science research.
Abstract: IN THIS SECTION: 1.) BRIEF 2.) COMPREHENSIVE BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS Part I Foundations Chapter 1 Why Do Research? Chapter 2 What Are the Major Types of Social Research? Chapter 3 Theory and Research Chapter 4 The Meanings of Methodology Chapter 5 How to Review the Literature and Conduct Ethical Studies Part II Planning and Preparation Chapter 6 Strategies of Research Design Chapter 7 Qualitative and Quantitative Measurement Chapter 8 Qualitative and Quantitative Sampling Part III Quantitative Data Collection and Analysis Chapter 9 Experimental Research Chapter 10 Survey Research Chapter 11 Nonreactive Research and Secondary Analysis Chapter 12 Analysis of Quantitative Data Part IV Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis Chapter 13 Field Research and Focus Group Research Chapter 14 Historical-Comparative Research Chapter 15 Analysis of Qualitative Data Part V Communicating with Others Chapter 16 Writing the Research Report and the Politics of Social Research COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS Part I Foundations Chapter 1 Why Do Research? Alternatives to Social Science Research What Research Involves: A Scientific Approach Varieties of Social Research Steps in the Research Process Why Learn How to Conduct Social Research Chapter 2 What Are the Major Types of Social Research? Use and Audience of Research Purpose of Research Within or Across Case Single or Multiple Points in Time Data Collection Techniques Chapter 3 Theory and Research What Is Theory? Social Theory versus Ideology The Parts of Theory Chapter 4 The Meanings of Methodology Philosophical Foundations The Three Approaches Positivist Social Science Interpretative Social Science Critical Social Science Feminist and Postmodern Research Chapter 5 How to Review the Literature and Conduct Ethical Studies The Literature Review Ethics in Social Research Part II Planning and Preparation Chapter 6 Strategies of Research Design Triangulation Qualitative and Quantitative Orientations Toward Research Qualitative Design Issues Quantitative Design Issues Chapter 7 Qualitative and Quantitative Measurement The Need for Measurement Quanitative and Qualtitative Measurement The Measurement Process Reliability and Validity A Guide to Quantitative Measurement Scales and Indexes Chapter 8 Qualitative and Quantitative Sampling Reasons for Sampling Sampling Strategies Part III Quantitative Data Collection and Analysis Chapter 9 Experimental Research Appropriate Technique A Short History of the Experiment Random Assignment Experimental Design Logic Internal and External Validity Practical Considerations Results of Experimental Research: Making Comparisons A Word on Ethics Chapter 10 Survey Research A History of Survey Research The Logic of Survey Research Construction of the Questionnaire Types of Surveys: Advantages and Disadvantages Survey Interviewing The Ethical Survey Chapter 11 Nonreactive Research and Secondary Analysis Nonreactive Measurement Content Analysis Existing Statistics/Documents and Secondary Analysis Secondary Analysis of Survey Data Issues of Inference and Theory Testing Ethical Concerns Chapter 12 Analysis of Quantitative Data Dealing with Data Results with One Variable Results with Two Variables More than Two Variables Inferential Statistics Part IV Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis Chapter 13 Field Research and Focus Group Research Understanding Field Research The Field Research Interview Data Quality Ethical Dilemmas of Field Research Focus Group Research Chapter 14 Historical-Comparative Research A Short History of Historical-Comparative Research Research Questions Appropriate for Historical-Comparative Research The Logic of Historical-Comparative Research Steps in Conducting a Historical-Comparative Research Project Data and Evidence in Historical Context Comparative Research Equivalence in Historical-Comparative Research Ethics Chapter 15 Analysis of Qualitative Data Comparison of Methods of Data Analysis Coding and Concept Formation Analytic Strategies for Qualitative Data Other Techniques Part V Communicating with Others Chapter 16 Writing the Research Report and the Politics of Social Research The Research Report The Politics of Social Research Objectivity and Value Freedom Appendix: Table of Randomly Selected Five Digit Numbers Bibliography Name Index Subject Index
18,682 citations
"Feeling Second Best: Elite Women Co..." refers background in this paper
...Interpretive research approaches within coaching sociology examine socially meaningful actions in the natural environment of the participants for the purpose of understanding and interpreting how individuals make sense of and sustain their social worlds (Neuman, 1997)....
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