Factors influencing the willingness to mentor female campus recreation professionals.

The purpose of this study was to discover factors which influence a mentor\u27s decision to engage in a mentoring relationship within campus recreation administration. The present study investigated four areas of inquiry within campus recreation: (a)what are the individual reasons for mentoring women? (b)what organizational factors inhibit or facilitate mentoring women? ©what protégé characteristics attracted mentors? And (d)what outcomes are associated with mentoring women? A qualitative research design from a phenomenological genre was chosen to examine the mentoring relationship from the perspective of the mentor. A group of campus recreation professionals from the Midwest were contacted for the study (N = 5, 3 female and 2 male). The participants were four directors and one assistant director of university campus recreation programs. This research study relied on three in-depth phenomenological interviews with each participant as the primary means of collecting data. The researcher used the constant comparative method of analysis throughout the study. Analysis of the data produced personal life history portraits of each participant and provided themes and categories for each research question. The data produced some interesting findings. First, although the research study was focused on females within campus recreation, there were not a substantial amount of gender related responses. Second, the mentors, in most cases, referred to students as the proteges without mentioning other professional staff within the organization. Third, the mentors cited time commitment as a disadvantage to mentoring others. Fourth, the mentors described discussing sensitive issues as a negative outcome associated with mentoring others. Fifth, the mentors described how the mentors are vulnerable in a camps recreation setting. Finally, the mentors described professional development opportunities as organizational factors which facilitate the mentoring relationship. Study findings provide valuable information for campus recreation directors wanting to know ways to successfully mentor not only females but also males entering the campus recreation profession

The Impact of Title IX on Career Opportunities in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of Title IX on the careers of men and women working in intercollegiate athletic administration. The participants (N = 1275) for this study were women (n = 497) and men (n = 778) working in intercollegiate athletic administration at NCAA Divisions I, II, II, as well as at NAIA schools and junior colleges. The participants completed the Female Sport Manager Career Survey and provided demographic and qualitative data. The primary impacts on careers described by the women in the study were (a) increased job opportunities for women, (b) no impact, and (c) increased opportunities for participation. The men, on the other hand, indicated the greatest impacts on careers as (a) no impact, (b) discrimination against qualified men, and (c) increased job opportunities for women. More research is needed to further examine these perceived impacts and how they affect the culture of an intercollegiate athletic department

Is Same-Gender Mentorship Important for Division III Female College Athletes?: An Application of the Mentor Role Theory

In the last twenty years, opportunities for women in intercollegiate athletics have grown exponentially. Unfortunately, women still represent a small number of head coaches in intercollegiate athletics, creating a disparity in numbers between female college athletes and female head coaches. This disparity has led to an imbalance for female college athletes searching for female role models and mentors. This study investigated the mentoring experiences of NCAA Division III female college athletes based on their lived experiences with both male and female head coaches. Using Mentor Role Theory (MRT), a set of qualitative responses were collected and analyzed. The participants highlighted career and psychosocial functions of MRT, with responses emphasizing positive and negative experiences with their past and present head coaches. Overall, female college athletes noted the importance of both career and psychosocial functions in their experiences with both male and female coaches. However, the college athletes’ experiences with their female head coaches were predominately positive, whereas, the participants were found to hold mixed experiences (both positive and negative) with their male coaches. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for Division III athletics, mentor role theory, and the importance of the coach/athlete relationship

The Examination of the Mentoring Relationship between the Head Coach and Assistant Coaches of Women's Basketball Teams

A number of studies have examined the decreasing number of female head coaches of women's teams. Researchers have consistently demonstrated the mentoring relationship has provided substantial benefits in helping women advance within leadership positions within the sport industry. The purpose of this study was to examine the mentoring relationship between the head coach and female assistant coach of women's basketball teams who aspire to become a head coach. More specifically, the mentoring characteristics and advancement techniques were two areas of focus. Findings suggested mentoring characteristics and advancement techniques may provide recommendations on mentoring women who aspire to become head coaches

Effective Mentoring Relationships with Women in Sport: Results of a Meta-Ethnography

Women continue to be underrepresented in leadership positions within sport. One of the most critical aspects of advancing women in leadership positions within sport is the mentoring relationship. As the number of women entering sport increases, a growing number of professionals recognize the inherent benefits and challenges between the mentor and the protégé. This study was designed to identify themes based on key elements of an effective mentoring relationship helping women to advance within leadership positions in sport. A qualitative methodology, meta-ethnography, allowed the researcher to synthesize 15 qualitative studies about mentoring women within sport. These 15 studies were selected by using both content and methodological screening. Each study was read, coded, and analyzed for themes based on the key elements of an effective mentoring relationship. The findings of the study revealed 10 themes and seven implications for female protégés, potential mentors, and organizations to consider when mentoring women within sport

Factors Influencing the Willingness to Mentor Females in Leadership Positions within Campus Recreation: A Historical Perspective

The purpose of this study was to examine how mentoring played a role in advancing women in leadershippositions within campus recreation from a historical perspective. The present study investigated two areas ofinquiry within campus recreation: (a) what were the individual reasons for mentoring women within campusrecreation? and (b) what organizational factors inhibited or facilitated mentoring wome

Factors Influencing the Willingness to Mentor Females in Leadership Positions within Campus Recreation: A Historical Perspective

The purpose of this study was to examine how mentoring played a role in advancing women in leadershippositions within campus recreation from a historical perspective. The present study investigated two areasof inquiry within campus recreation: (a) what were the individual reasons for mentoring women withincampus recreation? and (b) what organizational factors inhibited or facilitated mentoring women

Career Paths of Women Working in Leadership Positions within Intercollegiate Athletic Administration

Scholars have focused their attention on the careers of women working in management positions in several sport industry segments, however, limited research has focused on careers of women working in intercollegiate athletic administration. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine career information of women working in the administration of intercollegiate athletics. The study addressed the following amongst women working in intercollegiate athletic administration: (a) demographics, (b) career paths, (c) most/least enjoyable aspects of their jobs, (d) greatest challenges, (e) career advice, and (f) short-term and long-term career aspirations. This descriptive study provided insight for women wanting to explore a career within intercollegiate athletic administration. The information is useful for both women and men working in intercollegiate athletic administration and to the NCAA organization in support of its ongoing work to promote diversity in leadership positions. In addition, women wishing to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics face a number of challenges, but acknowledging the voices of the women within this study can begin to explain some of the steps needed to maximize women's contributions to this field. Finally, this study contributes to the body of knowledge in the sport management literature in intercollegiate athletics