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Recent market growth in women's sport has happened as fans increasingly support brands that embrace social issues, suggesting that women's sport houses multiple logics (financial and social) that may be compatible. The purpose of this study is to explore employees' perspectives of the logics in women's sport and how these influence their workplace experiences. Using a case study design, we interviewed 15 women's sport employees. We observed that they navigate both financial and social logics, which they see as compatible. This understanding of a complementary relationship has both behavioral (e.g., collaboration) and emotional (e.g., collective anxiety) consequences for employees. Notably, collective anxiety is simultaneously associated with negative effects and positive coping mechanisms, demonstrating its complexity in shaping individuals' actions. This research advances understanding of how employees respond to multiple logics and the effects of this process. Insights from this study can help women's sport managers better support workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have begun to explore the interplay between the multiple identities within a sport fan's salience hierarchy, noting fandom may compete with other central roles. Researchers have also recently emphasized well-being outcomes for fans, with increasing focus on physical health. Though sport consumer behavior and health consciousness have concurrently emerged, the social psychological connection between the two is unclear. Thus, we aim to clarify this relationship. We leverage an emerging quantitative approach: polynomial regression and response surface methodology. Our findings indicate individuals who value both fandom and health consciousness (i.e., demonstrate high fan identity and health consciousness congruence) experience identity conflict, with men reporting higher levels of identity conflict than women. Thus, we contribute to literature on the potential negative sides (or challenges) of fan identity. The food and sedentarism common to fan culture appear to prompt psychological turmoil for health-conscious individuals. Fan identity may naturally integrate with other social roles, yet our results indicate fandom and health consciousness are often viewed in conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is written in response to the collective "reckoning" with anti-Black violence in 2020. We share our perspective in solidarity with the long traditions, and contemporary, everyday actions of survival and resistance from millions of unnamed members of Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities across the world. This article calls in the field of sport management, while calling attention to ways anti-Blackness has permeated the academy. Through observations, reflections, and interrogation of literature in the field, we illustrate the invisibility/marginality/erasure of Blackness in this body of knowledge and discuss missed opportunities for sport management. With the hope that the field will transform into a more inclusive, equitable, and just intellectual space, representative of Black, Indigenous, and other racialized voices, perspectives, experiences, and cultures, and accountable to rectifying the injustices inflicted upon Black and other racialized bodies, we offer calls to action for everyone in the field to consider. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutional work, defined as the actions aimed at creating, disrupting, and maintaining institutions, has become an important framework within sport organization research. Despite important theoretical advances, scholars have called for more research to better develop theoretical understandings of how embedded actors influence institutions. The aim of this paper is to examine how individual actors may engage in relational institutional work within sport organizations through prosocial behaviors. In this paper, the authors outline how prosocial behaviors such as organizational citizenship behaviors, whistleblowing, voice behaviors, mentoring, knowledge-sharing, and brokering introductions may impact the creation, maintenance, and disruption of institutions. Thus, this paper extends the institutional work framework by explicating how daily interactions impact institutionalization within sport settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gay men in sport are currently at a historic crossroads. On the one hand, the sport industry has never been more accepting and inclusive of sexual minorities than it is today. On the other hand, however, the sociocultural norms and organizational practices within sport that have traditionally stigmatized gay men and influenced their career choices--both in pursuit of and persistence within careers in sport--continue to exist. Drawing from life course theory, the purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore the experiences of 12 gay men working in the sport industry and understand how their awareness (or lack thereof) of the stigma associated with being gay shaped their career decisions. Findings suggest that historical/social context, organizational practices, personal and professional relationships, and the interplay between these factors inform how gay men navigate their stigmatized identities while working in sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to utilize egocentric network analysis to predict repurchase behaviors for college football season-ticket holders. Using a research approach grounded in network theory, we included the relational and behavioral characteristics of sport fans in a binomial regression model to predict renewal decisions among college football season-ticket holders. More specifically, we developed a model that incorporates the egocentric network variables, past behavior, and behavioral intentions to empirically test which consumer characteristics predict future behavior. Building on previous research emphasizing the role of socializing agents and social connections in sport fan consumption, through the use of egocentric network analysis, we examined the effects of social structure and social context on repurchasing decisions. Moreover, the present study is positioned within the larger discourse on season-ticket holders, as we aimed to add a network theory perspective to the existing research on season-ticket holder churn and renewal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing from signaling theory and creative capital theory, the purpose of this study was to examine the influence of advertising inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals on consumers' intentions to join a fitness club. The authors also considered the moderating effects of consumer gender and social dominance orientation. Participants (N = 203) took part in an experiment where they reviewed fitness club advertisements and then responded to a questionnaire. Persons who viewed LGBT-inclusive advertisements were more likely to believe the club was diverse and inclusive (based on racial diversity, sex diversity, and sexual orientation and gender identity diversity) than were those who viewed non-inclusive advertisements. Logistic regression showed that club diversity, gender, and social dominance orientation interacted to predict intentions to join the club: for women, low levels of SDO were associated with greater intentions to join a diverse fitness club, while high levels of SDO were not associated with join intentions. For men, neither low levels nor high levels of SDO were associated with intentions to join a diverse fitness club. Marketing implications are discussed., Introduction The benefits of diversity to the workplace are many. On the one hand, there is the potential for improved workplace dynamics and organizational outcomes, advantages realized because of the [...]

In drawing from multiple theoretical frameworks, including stigma theory (Goffman, 1963; Paetzold. Dipboye, & Eslbach, 2008) and social dominance theory (Sidanius & Pratto, 1999), the purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of weight discrimination among coaches of NCAA women's golf teams. Coaches participated in an experimental study, where they reviewed the resumes of high school golfers and indicated the likelihood of offering the golfer an athletic scholarship. The resumes varied by weight of the golfer and skill level, and coaches' social dominance orientation was also measured. Fat golfers were less likely to be offered a scholarship than were thinner golfers. Player skill level moderated these effects, as did the coaches' social dominance orientation. Contributions, limitations, and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of scholars have articulated the real and perceived benefits of engaging in collaborations with practitioners and have urged researchers to establish industry partnerships. Much of the discussion, however, stems from a researcher-perceptive and focuses on developing theory and scholarly advancements; less effort has been made to understand the potential advantages from a practitioner's viewpoint. Therefore, this paper uses an expert interview methodology to explore the industry perspective. Through an interview with Kate Fagan, an espnW and ESPN.com journalist, this article sheds light on how academic researchers and sport industry professionals, particularly those working in women's sports, can collaborate and produce rich data and stones supporting social change. In addition, the authors provide suggestions for establishing a productive relationship among the sport industry and academia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the work included in the special issue: Creating Social Change in and Through Intercollegiate Sport. In doing so, the author develops a multilevel conceptual model, demonstrating how the research included in the special issue addresses the antecedents and outcomes of social change initiatives in intercollegiate sport at the macro (i.e., institutionalized practices, cultural norms), meso (i.e.. support of others, compelling narratives, collaborations) and microlevel (i.e., perspective-altering experiences, attitudes toward role of sport) of analysis. In addition, the author suggests ways to overcome barriers and increase the success of future social change initiatives. Based on this collection of scholarship, the author encourages researchers and practitioners to consider the multilevel factors that influence social change and the subsequent outcomes of such actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, sport research on sexuality has primarily focused on White lesbian, bisexual, and gay (LBG) persons or heterosexual racial minorities; few studies have provided meaningful insight into how sexual prejudice affects racial minorities. Thus, the purpose of the current study is to explore the intersection of race, sexual orientation, and gender in the context of collegiate sport and examine the influence of multiple marginalized identities on organizational outcomes. Grounded in intersectionality literature and feminist standpoint theory, semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 current and former intercollegiate sport employees. Results revealed four higher order themes: (a) racially influenced experiences, (b) managing lesbian-ness, (c) organizational climate, and (d) organizational outcomes. This research expands the theoretical knowledge of intersectionality, introduces a turnover intention tipping point phenomenon, and provides mangers with firsthand feedback on current policy and norms that may decrease satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine parents’ supportive attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) coaches, as well as the sources of that support. The authors drew from the model of dual attitudes and a multilevel framework developed for the study to guide the analyses. Interviews were conducted with 10 parents who lived in the southwest United States. Analysis of the data revealed three different types of support: indifference, qualified support, and unequivocal support. Further analyses provided evidence of multilevel factors affecting the support, including those at the macro-level (religion), the meso-level (parental influences and contact with sexual minorities), and the micro-level (affective and cognitive influences) of analysis. Theoretical implications and contributions of the study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genuine sport of quidditch, based off the Harry Potter franchise, offers an alternative to traditional sport that has grown immensely in terms of popularity and participation. Due to the scarcity of research on coed sports, and the innovative nature of quidditch, the purpose of this research was to use an exploratory qualitative approach to examine impact of the sport on its participants, and to determine how its structure influenced participants' attitudes toward the opposite gender. Findings revealed the coed structure of the sport led to a positive coed experience for women and men, which in turn developed an increased desire for inclusivity and equality. In addition, both genders reported stereotype reduction due to participation in the sport, and women also reported feeling increased levels of self-confidence and pride. Despite these shifts in attitude, underlying prejudice toward women athletes was still apparent among men who participated in the sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport employees who champion LGBT inclusion efforts represent key elements in creating accepting environments within college athletic departments. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine the concept of champions and how they support LGBT individuals within heterosexist sport environments. Drawing from divergent literatures, including that related to organizational inclusion and championing behaviors, we explore how a combination of factors from multiple levels may influence sport employees' attitude and behaviors related to LGBT inclusion, and determine how supportive behaviors influence sexual minorities working within a college athletic department. Results indicate that various macro- (i.e., culture of sport, athletic boosters, university and community values, exposure to diverse cultures) meso- (organizational culture, presence of other champions), and micro- (demographics, open-mindedness, experiences with sexual minorities) level factors influenced the level of employee support for LGBT inclusive policies. Furthermore, power meaningfully influenced these dynamics, such that employees who did not resemble prototypically sport employees (i.e., White, heterosexual, male) were hesitant to show support for LGBT equality. However, those who did champion LGBT inclusive initiatives successfully modeled supportive behaviors and positive attitudes toward LGBT individuals, vocally opposed discriminatory treatment, and provided sexual minorities with a safe space within sport. The authors discuss implications and future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this qualitative analysis was to explore the work experiences of sport employees who are LGBT, and examine how these individuals negotiate their multiple social identities in a sport context. Considering the growing interest in sport, and sport management in particular, it is important for scholars to gain of better understanding of why people choose to work in the sport industry, and understand how employee identity may influence career decisions and subsequent work experiences. Thus, the researchers only interviewed employees who did not fulfill coaching or player roles, as these individuals could potentially work in other industries. Analysis of the data revealed how working in a sport context may present sexual minorities with certain advantages, such as an opportunity to enhance self-esteem and gain social acceptance. When confronted with unjust treatment because of their sexual orientation, employees used coworker social support and social mobility techniques to cope with these negative situations. Although the employees did not always view their sexual orientation as salient to their identity, they had all disclosed their sexual orientation, to varying degrees, to others in the workplace. Finally, though the participants did not engage in social change activities, some of their supportive coworkers attempted to proactively create a more inclusive work environment. Implications of these findings are discussed and practical suggestions are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examined how consumers' purchase intentions were influenced by secondary communications in a newspaper article on a sport apparel company's environmental policy. Hypotheses were based on signal theory and social dominance theory. One group read a negative review that stated the company had the worst environmental track record. Another group considered a positive review that stated the company had the best environmental track record. Our results showed that individuals were more likely to purchase from the company after they were exposed to the positive review of the company. Furthermore, the effect of the interaction between a company's policy and environmental consciousness explained a significant increase in the variance in consumers' purchase intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article develops a useful method to identify the extent to which universities and athletic departments in the U.S. are located in the four phases of escalation in the context of their investments in athletics. Universities getting substantial television revenues and bowl game payments were found to be in the lowest phase of escalation.

The article studies people's perceptions of organizations with lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT)-inclusive policies. Using signaling and social dominance theories in sport and non-sport contexts, the study interviewed 120 undergraduate students from a liberal Washington, D.C. and a conservative Southwest university. LGBT-inclusiveness signals enhance organizational attractiveness except for people with high social dominance orientation (SDO), or dominance-related concerns.

This paper presents a conceptual model to understand the relationship between everyday resistance and women's sport. Everyday resistance refers to when members of an oppressed group engage in mundane actions (i.e., playing sports) to resist dominant power structures and social norms. After reviewing resistance literature, we identify two levels of everyday resistance for women's sport : women's sport as everyday resistance and everyday resistance within women's sport . The former refers to when women participate in sport, thereby challenging social norms that marginalize women in society and exclude them from sport. The latter refers to how women athletes with intersecting marginalized identities resist the norms of who participates in women's sport and how, given the norms of sport that privilege whiteness, heteronormativity, and higher social classes among others. The model we introduce advances both sport scholarship and everyday resistance literature and can help scholars conceptualize how women create change in sport and in society-as well as how women athletes create change within women's sport, specifically., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 Isard, Melton and Macaulay.)