Diversity work in community sport organizations: Commitment, resistance and institutional change

Diversity is a key term used in a range of public and private organizations to describe institutional goals, values and practices. Sport is a prominent social institution where the language of diversity is frequently and positively used; yet, this rhetoric does not necessarily translate into actual...

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Main Authors: Spaaij, Ramón, Magee, Jonathan, Farquharson, Karen, Gorman, Sean, Jeanes, Ruth, Lusher, Dean, Storr, Ryan
Format: Journal Article
Published: Sage 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36467
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author Spaaij, Ramón
Magee, Jonathan
Farquharson, Karen
Gorman, Sean
Jeanes, Ruth
Lusher, Dean
Storr, Ryan
author_facet Spaaij, Ramón
Magee, Jonathan
Farquharson, Karen
Gorman, Sean
Jeanes, Ruth
Lusher, Dean
Storr, Ryan
author_sort Spaaij, Ramón
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Diversity is a key term used in a range of public and private organizations to describe institutional goals, values and practices. Sport is a prominent social institution where the language of diversity is frequently and positively used; yet, this rhetoric does not necessarily translate into actual practice within sport organizations. This paper critically examines diversity work in community sports clubs. Drawing upon qualitative research at 31 amateur sports clubs in Australia, the findings show that diversity work in community sport organizations is often haphazard and accidental, rather than a strategic response or adaptation to policy. This paper concludes that while individual champions are critical to the promotion of diversity, persistent tensions and resistance arise when they seek to translate the language of diversity into institutional practice and culture change.
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publishDate 2016
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-364672018-05-09T02:06:03Z Diversity work in community sport organizations: Commitment, resistance and institutional change Spaaij, Ramón Magee, Jonathan Farquharson, Karen Gorman, Sean Jeanes, Ruth Lusher, Dean Storr, Ryan Diversity is a key term used in a range of public and private organizations to describe institutional goals, values and practices. Sport is a prominent social institution where the language of diversity is frequently and positively used; yet, this rhetoric does not necessarily translate into actual practice within sport organizations. This paper critically examines diversity work in community sports clubs. Drawing upon qualitative research at 31 amateur sports clubs in Australia, the findings show that diversity work in community sport organizations is often haphazard and accidental, rather than a strategic response or adaptation to policy. This paper concludes that while individual champions are critical to the promotion of diversity, persistent tensions and resistance arise when they seek to translate the language of diversity into institutional practice and culture change. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36467 10.1177/1012690216654296 Sage fulltext
spellingShingle Spaaij, Ramón
Magee, Jonathan
Farquharson, Karen
Gorman, Sean
Jeanes, Ruth
Lusher, Dean
Storr, Ryan
Diversity work in community sport organizations: Commitment, resistance and institutional change
title Diversity work in community sport organizations: Commitment, resistance and institutional change
title_full Diversity work in community sport organizations: Commitment, resistance and institutional change
title_fullStr Diversity work in community sport organizations: Commitment, resistance and institutional change
title_full_unstemmed Diversity work in community sport organizations: Commitment, resistance and institutional change
title_short Diversity work in community sport organizations: Commitment, resistance and institutional change
title_sort diversity work in community sport organizations: commitment, resistance and institutional change
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36467