Faunce, Amanda J.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of high schoolathletic directors related to women serving as athletic directors in the state of Kansas.This was an explanatory sequential mixed methods survey using an electronic survey viaGoogle Forms and qualitative interviews. The study was limited to 108 high schoolathletic directors serving in Kansas Class 4A, 5A, and 6A high schools, and focused onthree research questions. The first research question examined survey respondents’perceptions of the roles and responsibilities of a Kansas Class 4A, 5A, or 6A high schoolathletic directors, and to what extent the respondents perceived these roles andresponsibilities being potentially impacted by the gender of the athletic director.Findings indicated that the perceptions of males and females varied based on the surveyquestion. The percentage of agreement or disagreement by gender, however, did notvary. The second research question focused on whether females perceived that theyfaced different obstacles than their male counterparts in obtaining and retaining Class 4A,5A, or 6A high school athletic director positions in Kansas. Results showed thesentiment of it being a “man’s world” and that the “good old boy network” was verymuch alive. The respondents reported the importance of informal social networks andgender ideologies not serving as a deterrent for applying for the position. Specifically,the respondents reported that a candidate does not have to be a male to perform the jobduties; rather, it was more important that a candidate possesses the necessaryqualifications and skills. The final research question examined strategies that had beenemployed by Kansas Class 4A, 5A, or 6A female high school athletic directors to obtainand retain their positions. The most common strategies were maintaining a strong work ethic, proving oneself, providing support for one another, and fostering relationships withthose whom they served.