Source: Wikimedia
For an essay the going to write my Critical Thinking and Writing course, we were asked report in blog form on the conversation that is already happening around our essay topic.
Basically, how has academia, the public or others interpreted this topic? And what are they missing? Or where do they not connect the dots?
The Territory
My topic is, broadly, the lack of women leaders, specifically, athletic directors, including how and why this problems exists. As I read the scholarly articles on the topic, the sources made connections I had not necessarily considered previously.
For Example…
Source: Wikimedia
One case study supported the idea that there gendered politics play a role in the process of hiring an athletic director.
Another source performed a study that the leadership style of an athletic director has an impact on perceived effectiveness of an athletic director regardless of gender.
One study provided evidence that some subroles (roles of an athletic director like networking, delegating, or evaluating employees) are gendered and those subroles perceived as male strengths are be the most important roles within the occupation.
Theoretical Framework
Though I did not have a ton of insight or knowledge on this specific topic to begin, reading these articles critically quickly brought me up to speed. As I read I made connections between these sources. And not just that they were they mostly studies or surveys. But important theoretical frameworks that they had in common like social dominance theory (SDT), social cognitive career theory (SCCT), and social role theory (SRT). These are theories that come from other literature which serve as shared assumptions of the authors. Without these theories to support the evidence, the studies would be practically useless.
The Gap
But, of the many articles I read there was no discussion of the public view of the topic. I understand that the public has little knowledge of sports management as an occupation, but that does not void their impact on the issue.
Perhaps, the media or the sporting audience plays a role in supporting male athletic directors who tend to place more male coaches in their staff. In addition, there is certainly a conversation in the public eye about women leadership via form of women empowerment. Either of those aspects could have a significant effect (in the future or currently) on increasing or decreasing the number of women athletic directors.