Empowering Women Sports Leaders in Uzbekistan A critical analysis of transforming the role of Women in Sports Management

Abstract

Empowering Women Sports Leaders in Uzbekistan A critical analysis of transforming the role of Women in Sports Management

Nigora Gulomova Dream Together Master Program Global Sport Management, Department of Physical Education The Graduate School Seoul National University

The research on underrepresentation of women leaders in sports organization within Uzbekistan is very scarce. The last 26 years of independence of Uzbekistan remarkably changed the role of women in sport and women in general. Despite the increase of female athletes involvement in sports, Uzbek women sports leadership remain invisible. Hence, the purpose of study was on the exploration of womens experiences currently working in the sports management. Qualitative method, i.e. eight in depth interviews among female leaders in a chosen sports organization of Uzbekistan gave profound insight on their career success and failure actors, their leadership qualities, styles and effectiveness to lead. This investigation found that Uzbek female sport leaders had several common experiences during their career. Specifically, they cited that family, education, mentorship and personal factors were facilitators to successful performance whereas gender perceptions and talent discrimination existing in organizations, lack of interpersonal relations and financial discrimination were barriers to negotiate these in a male dominated world. Based on the findings detailed advices and policies are suggested that will increase female sports participation. This research also lays recommendation which will enhance the transformation of women leadership roles, thus benefiting the status of sport organizations of Uzbekistan. It is hoped that the findings from the research will be applicable and influence the national sports policy in Uzbekistan, and also help to create auspicious and family-friendly circumstances for women leaders in sports, as a result sets an example of good governance and reach requirement of the International Olympic Committee.

Keywords : Female leadership, women sports leader, women sports management, sports participation Student Number: 2015-22352