Pipeline problem: Factors influencing the underrepresentation of women in top leadership positions in sports organisation

Mirian Pabatao Aman, Aminuddin Yusof, Maimunah Ismail, Abu Bakar Mohamed Razali

Abstract


National Sports Associations, National and International Sports Federations and even International Olympic Committee continue to struggle meeting the 20% representation quota of women in executive boards. Although women’s representation as athletes, coaches and officials increased in national and international sports competitions but not in leadership particularly in top positions. In sports leadership, empirical research showed statistical figures that women have gained access in leadership pipeline however, they still lack in representing the executive boards. This study is a part of a larger phenomenological investigation which purpose was to identify factors that may influence the persistent underrepresentation of women in top leadership position. From a purposive maximum variation sampling of seven participants, top women leaders in Malaysia national sports organisations were interviewed about their career path and experiences on how and why women top leaders continue to lag behind with their male counterparts. Results suggest self-limiting behaviors, work-life conflict and interpersonal relationships among other women contributed to the underrepresentation of women in top positions. Factors attributed to social perception of gender and leadership roles incongruence also limited women leaders’ access in organisations which subsequently contributed to pipeline problem. Moreover, participants offered suggestions in overcoming the challenges and personal strategies in advancing opportunities and career development.

Keywords


Barriers, gender, pipeline problem, underrepresentation, women in sports leadership

References


Abdela, L. (2000). From palm tree to parliament: Training women for political leadership and public life. In C. Sweetman (Ed.), Women and Leadership (pp. 16-23) Oxford, UK: Oxfam GB.

Abdullah, A. (2001). Influence of ethnic values at the Malaysian workplace: Understanding the Malaysian workforce, guidelines for managers (pp.14-64). Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Institute of Management.

Adriaanse, A. (2016). Women are missing in sport leadership, and it’s time that changed. The Conversation, academic rigour journalistic flair. Retrieve from https://theconversation.com/women-are-missing-in-sport leadership-and-its-time-that-changed-69979 on May 6, 2017.

Ariffin, R. (1999). Feminism in Malaysia: A historical and present perspective of women’s struggles in Malaysia. Women’s Studies International Forum, 22(4), 417-423.

Ariffin, R., & Abdullah, M.C. (1997). Resurgent patriarchy and violence against women. Kathmandu: ARENA.

Blair-Loy, M. (2001). Cultural constructions of family schemas: The cases of women finance executives. Gender and Society, 15: 687-709.

Borland, J.F. (2008). The under-representation of black females in NCAA division I women’s basketball head coaching positions. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.

Borland, J.F., & Bruening, J.E. (2010). Navigating barriers: A qualitative examination of the underrepresentation of black females as head coaches in collegiate basketball. Sports Management Review, 13, 407-420.

Branson, D. M. (2007). No Seat at the Table: How corporate governance and law keep women out of the board room. New York: New York University Press.

Browne, K. (1999). Divided labours: An evolutionary view of women at work. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Burton, L.J. (2014). Underrepresentation of women in sports leadership. Sports Management Review, 18,155-165.

Coakley, J. (2001). Sports in society: Issues and controversies (7th Ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Coleman, M. (2001). Achievement against the odds: The female secondary head teachers in England and Wales. School Leadership & Management, 21(1), 75-100.

Couturier, L., & Chepko, S. (2001). Separate world, separate lives, separate sporting models. In G. L. Cohen (Ed.), Women in Sports: Issues and Controversies (2nd ed., pp. 57-78). Exonhill, MD.: AAHPERD publications.

Creswell, J.W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Dixon, M.A., & Bruening, J.E. (2007). Work-family conflict in coaching: A top-down perspective. Journal of Sports Management, 21, 377-406.

Dominici, F., Fried, L. P., & Zeger, S. L. (2009). SO FEW women leaders. Academe, 95(4), 25-27.

Eddy, P. L., & Cox, E. M. (2008). Gendered leadership: An organisational perspective. New Directions for Community Colleges, (142), 69-79.

Everhart, B.C., & Chelladurai, P. (1998). Gender differences in preferences for coaching as an occupation: The role of self-efficacy, valence, and perceive barriers. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sports, 69(2), 188-200.

Evetts, J. (1988). Managing childcare and work responsibilities: The strategies of married women primary and infant head teachers. Sociological Review, 36(3), 503-531.

Factsheet London Facts and Figures, International Olympic Committee, 2016.

FIFA, football and women: Why reform must specify inclusion and investment. Retrieved from http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/footballgovernance/02/72/23/75/201510fifareformsubmissionwftffinal_neutral.pdf on June 10, 2016.

Goldberg, S. (1993). Why men rule: A theory of male dominance. Chicago: Open Court.

Goslin, A. E., & Kluka, D. A. (2014). Women and sport leadership: Perceptions of Malawi women educated in sports business leadership. South African Journal for Sports, Physical Education and Recreation, 36(3), 93-108.

Greendorfer, S. L. (2001). Gender role stereotypes and early childhood socialization. In G. L. Cohen (Ed.), Women in sports: Issues and Controversies (2nd ed., pp. 3-23). Exonhill MD.: AAHPERD Publications.

Greenhaus, J. H., & Parasuraman, S. (1999). Research on work, family, and gender: Current status and future directions. In G. N. Powell (Ed.), Handbook of Gender & Work, 391-412. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Hancock, M.G., & Hums, M.A. (2015). A “leaky pipeline”?: Factors affecting the career development of senior-level female administrators in NCAA Division I athletic departments. Sports Management Review, 19(2016),198-210.

Helfat, C. E., Harris, D., & Wolfson, P. J. (2006). The pipeline to the top: Women and men in the top executive ranks of U.S. corporations.” The Academy of Management Perspectives, 20 (4), 42-64.Helfat, Harris, & Wolfson, 2006.

Henry, I., Radzi, W., Rich, E., Shelton C., Theodoraki, E., & White, A. (2004). Women, leadership and the Olympic movement. Loughborough: Institute of Sports and Leisure Policy, Loughborough University and the International Olympic Committee.

Hofstede, G., & Hofstede, G.J. (2005). Cultures and organisations: Software of the mind (2nd ed.) New York: McGraw-Hill.

Inglis, S., Danylchuk, K.E., & Pastore, D. (2000). Multiple realities of women’s work experiences in coaching and athletic management. Women in Sports and Physical Activity Journal, 9, 1-26.

Jogulu, U.D., & Wood, G.J. (2008). A cross-cultural study into peer evaluations of women’s leadership effectiveness. Leadership & Organisation Development Journal, 29(7), 600-613.

Kennedy, J. (2002). Leadership in Malaysia: traditional values, international outlook. Academy of Management Executive 16(3), 15-26.

Khor, P. H, & Lim, K. C. (2013). Multiculturalism: Issues of Malaysian female sports tourists in event-based sports tourism. Procedia: Social and Behavioral Sciences 91, 270-287.

List, D. (2004). Maximum variation sampling for surveys and consensus groups. Adelaide: Audience Dialogue. Available at www.audiencedialogue.org/maxvar.html.

Lough, N. (2001). Mentoring connections between coaches and female athletes. JOPERD: The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, (72)5, 30-33.

Lovett, D.J., & Lowry, C. D. (1994). "Good old boys" and "good old girls" clubs: Myth or reality? Journal of Sports Management, 8, 27-35.

Mariani, M. D. (2008). “A gendered pipeline”? The advancement of state legislators to congress in five states.” Politics and Gender, 4 (2), 285-308.

Massengale, D. (2009). The underrepresentation of women in interscholastic sports leadership: A qualitative study on the effects of role incongruity. Unpublished Dissertation. University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Massengale, D., & Lough, N. (2013). Women leaders in sport: Where's the gender equity? Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 81(4), 6-8.

Maürtin-Cairncross, A. (2009). A still-chilly climate: Experiences of women in leadership positions in South African higher education. On Campus with Women, 38(1), 10-10.

Megat Daud, M.A.K., Radzi, W., Abdullah, R., & Johari, F. (2013). The participation of women managers in managing sports: Challenges and reality. Life Science, 10(3), 870-878.

Nagaraja, Shyamala. (1995). Malaysian women today. Kuala Lumpur, Women's Affairs Division, Ministry of National Unity and Social Development, Malaysia.

Nelson, D. L. Burke, R. J. (2000).Women Work Stress and Health in Davidson, M.J. Burke, J.(2000) Women in Management current research issues. Volume II. London Sage.

Pell, A. (1996). Fixing the leaky pipeline: Women scientists in academia. Journal of Animal Science, 74 (11), .

Ninth Malaysian Plan . Developing a sports culture. Chapter 24, pp475-482.

Pfister, G., & Radtke, S. (2006). Dropping out: Why male and female leaders in German sports federations break off their careers. Sports Management Review, 9, 111-139.

Ragins, B. R., Bickley Townsend, B., & Mattis, M. (1998). “Gender gap in the executive suite: CEOs and female executives report on breaking the glass ceiling.” The Academy of Management Executive, 12 (1), 28-42.

Soe, E., & Yakura, E. K. (2008). What’s wrong with the pipeline? Assumptions about gender and culture in IT work. Women’s Studies, 37 (3), 176-201.

Sperandio, J., & Kagoda, A. M. (2010). Women teachers' aspirations to school leadership in Uganda. International Journal of Educational Management, 24(1), 22-33.

Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Tammy, H. (2016). The heart of the female leadership pipeline problem. Retrieved from: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/heart-female-leadership-pipeline-problem-tammy-heermann on September 19, 2017.

Tiessen, R. (2008). Small victories but slow progress: An examination of women in politics in Malawi. International Feminist Journal of Politics, 10(2): 198-215.

Turkel, A. R. (2004). The hand that rocks the cradle rocks the boat: The empowerment of women. Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis, 32(1), 41-54.

Walker, N., & Bopp, T. (2011). The Under representation of women in the male dominated sports workplace: Perspectives of female Coaches. Journal of Workplace Rights 15 (1).

White, K. (2004). The Leaking pipeline: Women postgraduate and early career researchers in Australia. tertiary education and management, 10 (3), 227-241.

Workplace Gender Equality Agency. (2017). Property problems: The female leadership pipeline is blocked. Retrieved from: https://www.wgea.gov.au/wgea-newsroom/property-problems-female-leadership-pipeline-blocked on September 19, 2017.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.15282/mohe.v7i2.186