Trond Svela Sand

Narratives of sexual harassment experiences in sport

The occurrence of sexual harassment in sport was first revealed in studies in the mid-nineties, and during the last 10–15 years there has been an increasing focus on this problem both from scholars and from sport politicians. Most of the studies on sexual harassment in sport have been prevalence studies, but there is a marked variety of approaches to the subject both theoretical and methodological. Studies have shown that coaches often are the perpetrators and qualitative studies have documented risk factors as well as the athletes’ responses and coping mechanisms. However, very few studies so far have described with the athletes own words their experiences. Furthermore, there has also often been a lack of explanation for why such behaviours occur. Hence, the aim of this article was to present two Norwegian athletes’ narratives of their sexual harassment experiences from their coaches. This is followed by a discussion which incorporates different models that try to explain why sexual harassment occurs. All models seem in one way or another to focus on power as an important factor in understanding the occurrence of sexual harassment, and the two female athletes’ narratives are discussed in relation to the power relations that exist in sport both at the individual and at the organisational level. The article concludes with the importance of developing policies, including ethical guidelines and educational materials for coaches as well as for athletes to create safer sport.

One of the few: the experiences of female elite-level coaches in Norwegian football

The aim of this article is to explore the experiences of female elite-level Norwegian coaches in football. More precisely, we wanted to find out the meaning of gender for these coaches’ football experiences. The results presented are based on five in-depth interviews with female elite-level coaches between 36 and 50 years of age. A feminist cultural and a gender perspective are used to understand and discuss the findings. As shown in other studies, the culture of football in Norway is very gendered. This has an impact on the female football coaches’ experiences, both in relation to how they perceive their own role, their coach education and with respect to their self-confidence and how they look upon their own chances in the job market. As a group, they represent a form of pariah femininity, and very little resistance femininity and a liberal feminist perspective, i.e. equality on the men’s premises.

The impact of gender quotas in leadership in Norwegian organised sport

ABSTRACT The purpose of the article is to investigate the impact of gender quotas as a means to equalise the gender representation in the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sport (NIF), with particular attention to the composition of executive boards. According to NIFs here. Law Book, a certain number of both genders is required when electing boards and committees at all levels in the organisation. The law also states rules for exemption when not fulfilled. Based on qualitative interviews the study explores how the quota regulation is practised at various levels in the organisation. The results revealed that interviewees from the higher levels (sport federations and regional confederations) were well aware of the quota regulation, less so on the club level. To the question whether the quota regulation guided the composition of the boards, most of the federations and all the regional confederations followed the rule, at the club level about two-thirds of the boards were composed in accordance with the regulation. The results are discussed in relation to criteria for ‘strong’, ‘moderate’ and ‘weak’ regulation, which in terms of fulfilment appears ‘strong’ at the highest level in the organisation, and ‘moderate’ or ‘weak’ at the club level.

Coach–athlete sexual relationships: Coaches’ opinions:

The focus of this article is the opinions and attitudes towards coach–athlete sexual relationships presented through the voices of female (n = 24) and male (n = 12) elite-level coaches in Norway. The results are based on in-depth interviews and the data were developed around the following question: “There are examples of athletes that fall in love with their coach and about sexual relationships between a coach and an athlete—what are your reflections around such coach–athlete relationships?” The coaches found such relationships very problematic and unacceptable. When it occurs, openness, i.e. to talk about it, is important. But the rule of thumb was that the coach–athlete relationship had to come to an end. In their elite-coaching role, these coaches believed it is important to have strict rules and clear boundaries. Furthermore, they should be aware of the power that they have and not exploit it. The results are discussed with respect to the professionalization of the coaching role, and the importance of including ethics in the education of coaches.