Barreras, facilitadores y estrategias que influyen en la participación femenina en juntas directivas de federaciones deportivas chilenas (Barriers, facilitators and strategies that influence women's participation on boards of directors of Chilean sports

La brecha de género sobre la participación femenina en puestos de toma de decisiones está evidenciada en las organizaciones deportivas. Las juntas directivas de las Federaciones Deportivas chilenas no están ajenas a esta situación. Por ello, esta investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar barreras, facilitadores y estrategias que influyen en la participación y desarrollo de las mujeres en cargos directivos en las Federaciones Deportivas de Chile. El método fue de tipo cualitativo con enfoque descriptivo y, la técnica fue la entrevista personal mediante aplicación de un guion semi-estructurado de preguntas. Durante octubre y noviembre de 2020 se desarrollaron entrevistas virtuales a mujeres que formaban parte de juntas directivas de federaciones deportivas. El análisis se realizó mediante categorías de análisis y codificaciones empleando el software Atlas. Ti. Las barreras identificadas se asocian a situaciones familiares tales como el cuidado de miembros de la familia. También se reconoce la existencia de prejuicios asociados a estereotipos de género en las funciones que se desempeñan; subestimación de las opiniones femeninas y desarrollo de los cargos en ambientes masculinizados que invisibilizan a las mujeres. Como agentes facilitadores se identifica el soporte familiar; el tener una profesión, experiencia laboral y capacitación en gestión deportiva, junto con algunos aspectos de la personalidad de las dirigentes. Como estrategias se releva la necesidad de un cambio cultural al interior de las federaciones en torno a la participación femenina, implementar cuotas de participación por género y desarrollar programas de capacitación en liderazgo para las mujeres. Abstract. The gender gap in female participation in decision-making positions is evident in sports organizations. The boards of directors of Chilean sports federations are no strangers to this situation. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine barriers, facilitators and strategies that influence the participation and development of women in managerial positions in Chilean Sports Federations. The method was qualitative with a descriptive approach and the technique was the personal interview through the application of a semi-structured script of questions. During October and November 2020, virtual interviews were conducted with women who were members of the boards of directors of sports federations. The analysis was carried out through categories of analysis and coding using Atlas. Ti. The barriers identified are associated with family situations such as caring for family members. The existence of prejudices associated with gender stereotypes in the functions performed, underestimation of women's opinions and the development of positions in masculinized environments that make women invisible are also recognized. Family support is identified as facilitating agents, having a profession, work experience and training in sports management, together with some aspects of the leaders' personalities. As strategies, the need for a cultural change within the federations regarding women's participation, the implementation of participation quotas by gender and the development of leadership training programs for women were identified.

Challenging gender norms: women’s leadership, political authority, and autonomy

Purpose In patriarchal settings, cultural barriers continue to influence women’s participation in positions of leadership and political authority. This paper aims to explore these findings in light of the theoretical concepts of “hegemonic masculinity” and “patriarchy,” which explain gender disparities in the occupancy of political power and leadership positions in Qatar. Design/methodology/approach Data from original face-to-face national surveys conducted among subjects in Qatar were used, including 1,611 completed household interviews. Findings The findings were consistent with the prevailing patriarchal beliefs present in Qatari society and Arab Gulf States. The analysis showed that there was greater significant support for men holding key leadership and authority positions than women. Individual-level factors were found to have a significant association with attitudes favoring women. Compared to respondents who had never attended school, those who had completed secondary school and those who had partaken in higher education favored having women in leadership roles. Practical implications As a means to fix the gender imbalance within the occupancy of positions of political power in Qatar, this study recommends putting substantial efforts into increasing the number of interventions underpinning gender equality through social awareness programs that may improve the public’s perceptions. Furthermore, gender-equitable affirmative actions are needed to promote the inclusion of women in power and increase their presence in leadership roles. Originality/value This study is among the very few that have theoretically and empirically addressed the issue of women’s authority and involvement in key leadership roles in the context of Qatar.

Influence of Gender Diversity in Boards on Family and Non-family Businesses Towards Innovation and Creativity

This article aims to understand better the impact of the diversity of gender in boards on the innovation and creativity of companies in the context of the structure of business—family businesses and non-family businesses. Based on women’s participation in decision-making and family firm literature, we argue that women directors/executives’ impact on decision-making will rely on their relative power and credibility within the board. These dynamics are especially crucial, bringing creativity to family firm’s boardrooms as well. The results show that increases in innovation and creativity with women’s presence in family firms’ boards are due mainly to outsider non-family and insider family women directors/executives. Even after the division of women directors into independent and non-independent directors, the finding suggests that women independent directors have an impact on the company’s innovations. Conversely, women chair minimal effects on the innovation and creativity advances of the businesses. Furthermore, In the family business, the influence of women managers and women independent managers on the innovation and creativity of a company is slightly stronger.

Factors That Shape Women’s Physical Activity: Development of the Reasons to Participate in Physical Activity Scale (RPPAS)

(1) Background: Obesity could deepen women’s susceptibility to COVID-19 infections and deaths. While physical activity has the potential to improve women’s physical and psychological resilience to the pandemic, there is a dearth of research on factors that motivate women’s participation in physical activity. Thus, to bridge the research gap, this study aims to identify factors that motivate women’s participation in physical activity. (2) Methods: An online survey on motivations for physical activity was developed and distributed to the participants. A total of 108 women offered complete answers (N = 108, 18–33 years old, Mage = 20.34 ± 2.42 years). Participants selected factors that promote their physical activity from a list of 34 factors from the Reasons to Participate in Physical Activity Scale (RPPAS) developed in this study. (3) Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed that factors that motivate women’s participation in physical activity are: enjoyment and gratification, consideration for other activities (i.e., exergaming), health benefits, networking opportunities, and appearance and performance. Multiple linear regression analyses indicate that only consideration for appearance and performance was significantly associated with participants’ physical activity levels after controlling for compounding factors. (4) Conclusions: The findings of this study underscore the importance of appearance and performance in shaping women’s participation in physical activity. Furthermore, the results also emphasize the need for a nuanced understanding of factors that influence women’s physical activity levels. Future research could investigate how to leverage these motivators in tailored health interventions that aim to improve women’s physical activity.

Women's Employment in Turkey's ICT Sector

Women constitute one of the risk groups vulnerable to poverty; therefore, enabling their participation in the labor force is crucial to promoting social inclusion in a society. Employment in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector is widely known for being male-dominated, and recently women's participation has become an important subject. This chapter aims to examine women's employment in Turkey's ICT sector from 2009 to 2016, from a social inclusion perspective, by using various indicators. Comparisons with European Union (EU) countries provide perspective on tracking the progress of employment structure and education choices for ICT by gender. All indicators signify the existence of a gender gap resulting in low rates of inclusion of women in Turkey's ICT employment during the period. Examination of the reasons leads to making some policy recommendations to promote social inclusion of women in Turkey's ICT employment.

Invisible Barriers, Undeclared Wars

Despite the indisputable progress of gender equality in academia in recent decades, the relative stagnancy of women's participation in decision making and resource distribution remains a global issue. There is growing evidence that a large part of gender inequality in higher education and research cannot be explained by explicit measurable factors. Male bias is encoded in societal and academic culture and to a significant extent determines subconscious choices and decisions benefiting men. This chapter analyses cultural reasons behind gender inequality and typifies them in a form of a matrix based on gendered attitudes to women's leadership in academia. The analysis of typical resistances reveals psychological and social mechanisms of subtle gender discrimination and is followed by a set of proposed preventive measures.

Entrepreneurial Success and Opportunities for Women and Female Youth in Pakistan

Entrepreneurship adventures and small business setups run and controlled by Pakistani youth and particularly students have a crucial economic and social impact. The white-collar professions are more preferred and pursued as compared to business models and trading opportunities. The factors considered for Pakistani entrepreneurs are entrepreneurial traits, development of creative leadership capabilities, overcoming the tyranny of fear, perfectionism and criticism, creative thinking, and development of business ideas. Role of women as entrepreneurs in Pakistan is central, and women's participation is vital for the prosperity of the economy of Pakistan. The collection of data and type of business involved demonstrate that the key factors and challenges are entrepreneurial characteristics and traits, employee requirements, motivation to become entrepreneurs, factors and challenges in development of business, profitability, sustainability, and success story.

Women Participation in School Governance in Lalitpur, Nepal: A Participatory Development Practice

Participation is an important dimension of good governance. In Nepal, there seem positive changes in women's participation in School Management Committees (SMC), Parent Teachers Association (PTA), and school administration but the participation of women has become a far-reaching goalin public school governance. This article is about exploring how women's participation could contribute to promoting good governance practices in community schools. Authors have applied an interpretative inquiry and participation and feminist standpoint theories to make out the meaning in this study which was carried in two public schools in Lalitpur, Nepal. The finding reveals that his meaningful representation of women in school governance is likely to minimize the governance challenges such as absenteeism, low parents’ participation, poor resource mobilization, transparency, and accountability.These positive transformations contribute to the community development process. However, enabling environment for women is needed to ensure their meaningful representation in school governance structures. This study is beneficial to educationists, planners, and development workers in Nepal.