Past, Present, Future: Policy and Gender Equity in English Sport Leadership and Governance

Abstract

Within this chapter I explore how national policy that influences gender equity in English sport governance has developed over time. This includes a discussion on the impact of domestic equal treatment legislation and women and sport activism on the development of gender-related governance policy within the sector. I draw upon Pierre Bourdieu's theory of practice to aid analysis of the effectiveness of top-down policy in creating transformational organisational change in the sector. I conclude that the extent to which sport governance policy has created transformational change within national governing bodies (NGBs) is uncertain. Some short-term success has been seen with increased average female representation across the boards of NGBs, but internalisation of the value of equitable, diverse and inclusive governance appears to be lacking.

Citation

Piggott, L. (2022), "Past, Present, Future: Policy and Gender Equity in English Sport Leadership and Governance", Velija, P. and Piggott, L. (Ed.) Gender Equity in UK Sport Leadership and Governance (Emerald Studies in Sport and Gender), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 71-85. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80043-206-220221005