Women and sports coaching

Over the last 40 years, a growing body of literature pertaining to women in sports coaching has amassed predominantly in Western countries. Unfortunately, women coaches remain in the minority across the globe in nearly all sports at all levels, due to the complex, numerous and interconnected barriers they face. Women coaches are visible, powerful reminders that women can be and are successful leaders worthy of respect and admiration. A feminist position is necessary for change to occur specifically within the organizational structure of sport that privileges males, and for gender stereotypes and bias that impede career trajectories to be shifted. This chapter provides a historical overview of feminist sport scholarship, and how current scholars are using that scholarship to forward knowledge and social change.