Assessing Gender Inequality in South Africa: A Case Study of Women in Sports Management
Abstract
The arrival of democracy in South Africa brought with it challenges that needed to be addressed to overcome the inequalities of the past. To a significant degree, the discrimination against not only race groups but also against women in general had to be tackled. Against this background, policies and legislation on achieving employment equity emerged. Despite this, a gender disparity still exists in the area of sports management. Regardless of efforts made by government and other sporting bodies to eliminate gender inequality, hurdles still remain at all levels.
The aim of this study is to explore the reasons for this gender disparity, identifying the constraints on women’s advancement and the challenges that they face in advancing in sport as managers (in various capacities). It also identifies appropriate policy interventions. This serves as a case study for broader issues of equity within a South African context and probes the situation more generally with regards to the position of women in sport management in South Africa.
The study presents the views of a selection of women in sport management and themes that were identified. These themes provides the basis for assessment and recommendations. The approach taken in order to complete the research was phenomenological as it has roots in epistemology. This approach provided rich information with the small sample size required and is ideal for the short time frame for the completion of this dissertation and exploration of the research problem. The research methods used in this research was qualitative. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women in sport management.
The results of the study were captured in four broad areas which indicated the challenges that women currently face. In general, respondents felt that in order to address the current challenges women need to find a niche in sport management and pursue it; women already holding management positions must become mentors of the next generation of women managers; and a career in sport management required women to balance their roles with their personal life.
The recommendations drawn provided opportunities to fast track the progress of gender equity in sports management: to educate a patriarchal society with changing roles for the girl child; to encourage women to equip themselves with knowledge and become vocal in their work environment; to overcome male domination and improve the communication gap between older and newer generations in sport management.
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