Women in Sports: Conceptual Framework Development and Future Directions

The purpose of this research is to conceptualize the effect of the glass ceiling on the career development of women in the sports industry. A systematic review using a thematic literature review was conducted to obtain the theoretical background for the paper. Research papers from prominent databases like SCOPUS and Web of Science in the field of career development, gender equality, and sports were examined using the PRISMA technique. Findings reveal that the presence of the glass ceiling, gender stereotyping, lack of adequate mentorship and scarce women role models hinder women from moving up the corporate ladder in sports. This causes a lack of representation of women employees in top management positions (decision-making roles). The authors analyze the ceiling and provide possible solutions. The conceptual framework developed based on the literature review is called the WinS Holistic Analysis Model. It represents the current loop that women face while endeavoring to move to leadership positions. This model is also vetted through fields outside of sports to inspect similar patterns of the ceiling. This paper emphasizes the need for women to feel confident of an equal opportunity to reach top management positions. It is also a wake-up call to sports organizations to emphasize the need for inclusion.