Speaker
Description
"Sport for development and peace (SDP) organizations work with marginalized and vulnerable individuals to achieve a range of development goals, including gender equality. Whilst a growing body of research has explored the gendering of SDP programmes and initiatives, there is a significant lack of research and applied work examining gender inclusion within SDP organizations themselves.
Objective: To explore the extent to which the leadership and governance of SDP organizations are gender inclusive.
Methods: An online survey with responses from a diverse sample of 118 SDP organizations. Interviews with senior leaders of SDP organizations across six continents.
Theory: An intersectional feminist framework.
Findings: Overall, the SDP organizations in the survey sample were gender balanced across both their boards and senior leadership teams (47.71% and 48.92% female representation, respectively). Additionally, the organizations were gender titled in favour of men across both chairs of the board and the most powerful leadership positions (36.33% and 37.50% female representation, respectively). There were no notable differences in findings according to where the organizations were geographically located. The interview findings will generate information on the extent to which women ‘having a seat at the table’ also translates to recognition and having a voice to influence the SDP sector.
Discussion: The complex, intersectional relationships between gender, representation, knowledge, and power within SDP organizations will be explored. Comparisons with the sport sector will be discussed, as well as learnings that can be provided to, and taken from, the SDP sector. "
