Lymbery, Lisa (2021) Clearing the boundary: a multilevel analysis of how gendered relations enable female leadership in non-professional cricket. Research Master thesis, Victoria University.

Abstract

Women have traditionally been underrepresented across many areas of sport. Whilst inroads have been made in recent years with increased participation rates, greater media representation, and the professionalisation of many elite women’s sports, one area which has continued to flounder—especially within male dominated sports—is female leadership representation. Whilst research to date has identified numerous gendered barriers which perpetuate the dominance of men in positions of power in sport, little attention has been paid to the enabling factors when women—through natural progression—reach leadership roles. Through an intersectional critical feminist lens, this thesis identifies the gendered enablers for nine females who hold leadership positions within non-professional cricket clubs in the Melbourne metropolitan area. A multilevel analysis of interviews and observations, utilising the theories of Pierre Bourdieu and Raewyn Connell, identifies four core themes. The findings will reveal that no one theme enables these female leaders, rather all four work in concert. Additionally, the interplay between each of the women and the enablers alters from one woman to another, and from one field to another. The implications drawn from this research point to a need to adopt new research approaches in the female leadership underrepresentation in sport space going forward.

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