GENDER DIVERSITY IN THE FOOTBALL SETTING: THE CONTRIBUTION OF ORGANIZATIONAL STUDIES

Gender diversity represents a complex phenomenon because of its both positive and negative effects on team functioning and performance within organizations. In the last decades, scholars and practitioners are paying an increasing attention to this phenomenon, mostly regarding women in leadership positions. The sport field, which is always conceived as exclusive “male-dominated business”, is significantly characterized by gender diversity issue. The role of women in the sport industry, especially in terms of leadership positions, represents still a phenomenon not broadly investigated mainly in the Italian context and in the football area. Starting from a review of the existing contributions in the literature and of practice on the issue, this conceptual and exploratory study aims at filling the gap in the literature and practice by providing a clear and brief picture of the current situation of women in the football business, paying attention to two main perspectives, that is football practice (female football players) and managerial performance (women at leadership positions or as managers in football organizations). We analyze the state of art with specific reference to some factors, such as: the influence of social and cultural determinants that characterize this country; the typology, nature and seniority of football discipline; the difference