This text is part of the special Feminine Leadership notebook
Despite slow progress, women remain underrepresented in the positions of sports leadership in Quebec. For the organization Égale Action and the PROFEMS Lab, a research laboratory affiliated with Laval University, these inequalities call for concrete actions that promote women’s access to all levels of responsibility.
Sport remains a world where gender parity is far from being achieved. Thus, women represent less than 30% of official and training positions in sports federations, according to the PROFEMS Lab. And while they mainly occupy coordinator and administrative assistant positions, management jobs are mainly held by men. “We still associate sports leadership with men, and this is a bias that urgently needs to be deconstructed,” analyzes Sylvie Béliveau, director of gender equity in sport at the organization Égale Action. This gap is no longer due to a lack of female candidates, because the recruitment pool and the skills are there. »
Why, then? ” THE boy’s club », replies Guylaine Demers, director of the PROFEMS Lab and full professor in the Department of Physical Education at Laval University. This masculine self-esteem is often designated by women as the main barrier to their progress. And this problem does not only affect Quebec. Throughout the world, sporting and political structures have historically been built “by and for men”, according to the two experts. “This erroneous and discriminating vision fuels a culture where women, even if they hold the same qualifications as their male counterparts, find themselves constantly doubted,” continues M.me Demers.
There also remains a persistent segregation between “guys” sports, i.e. very masculinized disciplines such as baseball, football and hockey, and “girls” sports, i.e. gymnastics or figure skating. Less than 30% of sports are found in the parity zone of 40% women and 60% men, according to the latest figures from Lab PROFEMS, which conducts research and collects data on the place of girls and women. in sport in Quebec, on an annual basis. The laboratory evaluates the impact of initiatives led by organizations like Égale Action, whose mission is equity and recognition of women in sport.
Encourage structural changes
In this fight for equality and representativeness, initiatives aimed at training women in communication or self-confidence are not useless, but they have shown their limits, according to Guylaine Demers. “For too long, we tried to equip women, but then they found themselves in an unwelcoming system. » It is therefore necessary to tackle transforming said system, in addition to mentalities and organizational practices, believes the researcher.
This involves, among other things, the establishment of quotas, a necessary measure to guarantee women’s access to strategic positions, according to the two speakers. “We are often told that we must hire based on skills rather than gender, but this discourse hides deep biases,” believes Sylvie Béliveau. On the ground, Égale Action calls on women and men who work in the sporting sector to make them understand the benefits of parity, during workshops and interventions.
The organization also focuses on the establishment of communities of practice, where women in leadership positions can discuss their challenges and develop collective strategies. These spaces aim to break the isolation of women in the community, strengthen their sense of legitimacy and encourage solidarity.
The importance of financing
For the two experts, it is also crucial to offer sustainable financial support for initiatives in favor of representativeness. Currently, several sports federations, due to lack of resources, have not yet used ministerial funds allocated to projects to support women coaches. “The women’s issue is never a priority, it is underfunded and the federations have very little staff, some just survive thanks to volunteering,” recalls Guylaine Demers.
Accountability is another important lever to ensure that the actions undertaken are quantified, targeted and result in concrete results. “We have to stop just trying to do better, it’s not working. It is essential to act now,” concludes Sylvie Béliveau.
Despite the solidity of the glass ceiling and the need for male allies, the two experts recognize a certain evolution in sports federations. The solutions are known, but the road remains long towards parity, which must be synonymous with fairness, that is to say, it must correspond to representation even in management positions.
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