Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Integrated Article

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Kinesiology

Supervisor

Doherty, Alison

Abstract

Women are active participants in sport, as administrative leaders, coaches, and elite athletes, and it is important to understand and continue to advance their engagement and experiences in that realm. Women have made gains in leadership but their actual progress towards such roles continues to be slow-paced (Burton & Leberman, 2017), indicating that additional action is still needed. Further, women’s experiences in sport roles are critical to their performance in, and for the organization, and to their personal job satisfaction (Kanter, 1977, 1993). Yet, they may face several challenges in their work, that may reduce their autonomy in relation to their work and impact their experiences and their sense of general wellbeing. An individual’s financial wellbeing is an important contributor to their overall wellbeing (Capic et al., 2018). It is important to recognize how elite athletes, and especially women athletes, navigate and make decisions to develop and sustain their finances in support of that wellbeing. This dissertation addresses these research areas and provides evidence from three studies on women’s engagement in sport. The conceptual model of the strategic business case developed in study 1 highlights evidence of the impact of women leaders on organizational practices, in pursuit of certain strategic priorities, for national sport organization (NSO) goal achievement. Study 2 provides insights to women’s empowerment in NSO sport leadership and organizational conditions that support that. Study 3 provides an understanding of the financial wellbeing of Canadian national team athletes and identifies particular money use and management behaviours that predict that wellbeing. The findings advance understanding of women’s engagement and experiences in sport and have implications for Canadian NSOs and multi-sport organizations that are considering the (further) engagement of women. Organizations can better support women, but action must be based on a strong platform of understanding what support is needed and how it may be enacted. The three studies in this dissertation provide that platform, to better support organizational efforts for the increased engagement of women in sport.

Summary for Lay Audience

My doctoral dissertation provides a platform or foundation to support the progress of women in Canadian sport. Women are active participants in sport, as administrative leaders, coaches, and elite athletes, but they may struggle to advance to leadership positions. The experiences of women leaders in sport may help us understand the conditions that are critical to their job performance and satisfaction, and for the organization, to retain them. Challenges at work may impact women and their sense of general wellbeing. An individual’s financial health and wellbeing is an important contributor to their overall wellbeing. It is important to recognize how national team athletes, and especially women athletes, manage their finances in support of that wellbeing. The three studies in this dissertation (1) highlight evidence of the impact of women on tasks and responsibilities that support goal achievement in Canadian national sport organizations (NSOs); (2) provide insight to women’s empowerment in NSO sport leadership and organizational conditions that support that; and (3) explain the financial wellbeing of Canadian national team athletes and money use and management behaviours that predict that wellbeing. The findings have implications for Canadian NSOs and multi-sport organizations that are interested in supporting and engaging women in sport. The three studies in this dissertation provide a platform of understanding what support is needed and how it may be provided, to enhance organizational efforts for the advancing women’s engagement in sport.

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