Diversity and inclusion in sports organizations is a challenging subject in the sports organization. After reading Ellen Staurowsky interview from the Diversity in Sports Organizations Interview Series, I realized how much gender inequality and race are still an issue in the sports business. However, the first key points that Ms. Staurowsky keeps emphasizes, is how important leadership is. Managers play a very important part in creating and maintaining diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In order for this to work, promotion of diversity must start with the CEO and work down (top-down). Individuals such as Miles Brand, Dick Shultz, and Charlotte Westerhaus-Renfrow have all been leaders in the NCAA that have done wonderful job putting
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Ms. Staurowksy talks about “mentor programs, fostering an understanding among employees, and discussing why every single employee has an investment and diversity and inclusion” (14). Then Ms. Burton say how “Education is key… My (her) students are exposed to different groups that they haven’t thought about being discriminated against, or they have no life experience with thinking about how they’re discriminated against. (29)” Last but not least Ms. Polite talks about using “seminar, educational programs, and retreats…” (42). All three of these interviewees talk about how education will help individuals grasp a better understanding of how we lack diversity in the sports organizations. Education is something very simple that can be applied to the management of sports …show more content…
I truly realized how much women are underrepresented on all levels in the sector that Ellen Staurowksy observed. This underrepresentation is all do to with how women are perceived. For example, in Janet Fink’s interview, she states that “when women engage in these masculine or male dominated behaviors, like being aggressive or independent or self-confident, they are evaluated less favorably than men because those behaviors do not match how we have been trained to view women” (34). Sports organizations need to start working harder to breakdown the barricades for women. Women have proven to be extremely successful in sports organizations once they are finally given the chance. A great example of this is Lesa France Kennedy who is the chief executive officer of International Speedway. She manages over one thousand employees and deals with an estimated seven hundred million dollars in annual revenues. Throughout all her accomplishments she has been given the title of one of the most influential females in the sports
Ms. Staurowksy talks about “mentor programs, fostering an understanding among employees, and discussing why every single employee has an investment and diversity and inclusion” (14). Then Ms. Burton say how “Education is key… My (her) students are exposed to different groups that they haven’t thought about being discriminated against, or they have no life experience with thinking about how they’re discriminated against. (29)” Last but not least Ms. Polite talks about using “seminar, educational programs, and retreats…” (42). All three of these interviewees talk about how education will help individuals grasp a better understanding of how we lack diversity in the sports organizations. Education is something very simple that can be applied to the management of sports …show more content…
I truly realized how much women are underrepresented on all levels in the sector that Ellen Staurowksy observed. This underrepresentation is all do to with how women are perceived. For example, in Janet Fink’s interview, she states that “when women engage in these masculine or male dominated behaviors, like being aggressive or independent or self-confident, they are evaluated less favorably than men because those behaviors do not match how we have been trained to view women” (34). Sports organizations need to start working harder to breakdown the barricades for women. Women have proven to be extremely successful in sports organizations once they are finally given the chance. A great example of this is Lesa France Kennedy who is the chief executive officer of International Speedway. She manages over one thousand employees and deals with an estimated seven hundred million dollars in annual revenues. Throughout all her accomplishments she has been given the title of one of the most influential females in the sports