Shannon Kerwin, Lara Lesch, Erik L. Lachance, Pamela Wicker

Women’s representation in sport organizations remains low across the globe. One starting point for addressing this issue is policy creation. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in characteristics of sport governing bodies with and without such a gender equality policy statement. Drawing from resource dependency and signaling theory, the empirical analysis uses data from questionnaires completed by representatives of sport governing bodies in Canada and Germany (n=343). Respondents dropping out during the questionnaire (group 1) were compared to organizations without a policy (group 2) and with a policy (group 3) using analyses of variances and post-hoc tests. Results show respondents in the dropping out group (group 1) are similar to those in the with a policy group (group 3). Group 3 respondents scored significantly lower on organizational performance (especially financial independence), innovative culture, decision-making quality, and human resource management. Results are explained by interpreting pressures imposed by entities that allocate resources, and the signals sent via policy. 

Citation:

Kerwin, S., Lesch, L., Lachance, E. L., & Wicker, P. (2026). Looking under the glass ceiling: Characteristics of sport governing bodies with and without gender equality policies. International Journal of Sport Management, 27(2), 133-154.