Female Officials in Europe and their Sport’s Diversity Climate

Research Question: Drawing from Cox’s (1994) Interactional Model of Cultural Diversity, the purpose of this study was to examine how individual-, interpersonal-, and sport-level factors related to female officials’ perceptions of their sport’s diversity climate.

Research Methods: The authors draw on data from a comprehensive, European-based survey of female officials in various sports. Respondents reported about their officiating biography, characteristics of their main sport, and individual characteristics (n=3,214). Information about a sport’s level of subjectivity and contact with athletes was added to the data. Diversity climate was assessed using the mean of a 12-item scale.

Results and Findings: The results of regression analyses show that years officiating, officiating with more male than female officials, and education all held negative associations with the sport’s diversity climate. On the other hand, the presence of a mentor was positively associated with diversity climate.

Implications: Collectively, the findings suggest that different factors shape female officials’ perceptions of the diversity climate in their sport. Sport organizations need to be aware of these factors and develop measures to improve the diversity climate for female officials and ultimately foster their retention in the sport.