Analysis of Factors Affecting Women's Career Paths and Advancement in Sports Management

The development and active presence of women in sports management positions is considered as one of the important aspects of social and cultural development. However, despite recent progress, women still face numerous obstacles in their career advancement and presence in management positions. This study examines the factors affecting the career path and progress of women in sports management using thematic analysis and the opinions of managers and experts to study various dimensions of women's career paths in sports management. This study collected and analyzed data using in-depth interviews with 15 female managers and experts in the field of sports management and thematic analysis. The main and sub-themes were categorized and prioritized in the Ishikawa diagram using Visio software. The fuzzy Delphi method was used to develop the solution. This framework takes a holistic, systemic, and long-term view of the issue of women's employment in sports. The statistical population includes managers, commission members, the National Olympic Committee, vice presidents, the Tehran Municipality Sports Organization, sports federations, and faculty members with management experience in sports organizations. Sampling was conducted using purposive sampling.

The main themes included “cultural, social, and organizational barriers,” “the role of social support,” “management policies,” and “personal achievements.” The results showed that cultural and organizational barriers are the main obstacles to progress. Solutions and facilitators such as support from upstream organizations, reforming laws and regulations, and implementing gender equality policies were examined. Also, culture building, strengthening the role of the media, role modeling, changing society’s perspective, and empowering women have been considered as effective factors in women’s progress in sports management.

This research provides important and practical results to facilitate women’s growth and progress in their sports careers and suggests solutions to organizations and decision-makers to create a dynamic and flexible environment for women’s participation in sports management. In order to improve and develop women’s careers in sports management, it is necessary to make cultural changes, clarify supportive management policies, and strengthen the role of social support.