Trying to find a way out of the maze: Strategies for the promotion of women careers in sport
Date and time: Wednesday May 27th, morning 10-13 a.m
Women’s participation in sport has increased notably over recent decades, as illustrated by the achievement of gender parity for the first time in the Paris 2024 (IOC, 2024). However, structural and cultural inequalities continue to shape the professional trajectories of women within the sports context. For athletes, studies indicate that their careers are often more closely tied to academic commitments (Pérez-Rivases et al., 2018), tend to end earlier than their male counterparts (Tekavc et al., 2017), and are significantly influenced by motherhood (Ferrer et al., 2022). Moreover, female athletes present a higher vulnerability to mental health problems (Kuettel & Larsen, 2020; Perry et al., 2021; Pons et al., 2020), suggesting an interaction between gender-related factors and the highly demanding nature of elite sport environments. These career-affecting issues extend beyond athletes, and women in positions of power (e.g., coaching, managers) also must overcome multiple barriers (mostly contextual and cultural) to sustain in their careers (Fasting & Knorre, 2005; Gonzalez et al., 2018; LaVoi, 2016; LaVoi et al., 2019; LaVoi & Dutove, 2012). These barriers also impact their mental health and overall wellbeing (Kenttä et al., 2021; Norman & Simpson, 2022; Tingle et al., 2021). The aims of this workshop are (a) to provide an integrated review of the factors influencing women’s careers in sport; and (b) to guide participants through a structured discussion oriented towards the identification of strategies and actions to promote women’s professional development in this context. This session seeks to contribute to the transfer of scientific knowledge to the design of policies and practices that advance real gender equality across all sport domains.
Who Is This Workshop For?
Designed for professionals working in and around sport, including:
- Sport psychologists
- Performance and Mental Skills Consultants
- Coach educators and developers
- Sport coaches
- PE teachers and practitioners working in performance and development contexts
About the Workshop Leaders :
Marta Borrueco holds a PhD in Sport Psychology from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and is a researcher in the Sport Psychology Research Group (GEPE) at the same university. Her research interests focus on the key figures involved in the sport context (e.g., coaches, parents, officials) and how they influence athletes’ development, as well as on the topics of career development & transitions, specifically in women’s sport. She also teaches at both undergraduate and master’s levels in the Faculty of Psychology at the UAB, primarily in subjects related to sport and developmental psychology. She also has experience as a trainer in workshops targeted at athletes, coaches, parents, and other members of the sports entourage. She is a member of the UAB Sport Research Institute and currently the Vice-President of the Catalan Association of Sport Psychology.
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