Educating Generation Z about Issues Relating to Gender Equality in the Governance and Leadership of Sport in the UK

Abstract

This chapter will outline the importance of engaging and informing Generation Z (Gen Z) about gender equality in UK sport governance and leadership. The chapter presents a live case study from an ongoing (2021–2026) European Commission ERASMUS + Sport Collaborative brief entitled Gender Equality Toolkit for Generation Z (GETZ) project. The theory explaining Gen Z behaviours, expectations and educational requirements will be explored as well as a review of the links between high participation rates and leadership roles in sport for men and the low participation rates and leadership roles for women, and how this issue can be addressed through wider awareness and increased education. The remainder of the chapter will introduce the online educational toolkit created through the GETZ project which attempts to build shared accountability for culture change through a teaching and learning community. Furthermore, considerations from the GETZ projects past, current and ongoing research studies related to areas of gender equality and Gen Z perceptions of inequality in sport will be discussed with the view to providing Gen Z with current knowledge on gender inequalities in sport and insight into the processes that reinforce existing inequalities as well as give them the space and skills to bring about long-term sustainable change.

Citation

Renfree, G., Burgess, B. and Jones, V. (2022), "Educating Generation Z about Issues Relating to Gender Equality in the Governance and Leadership of Sport in the UK", 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. 217-232. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80043-206-220221013