Gender equality and the business case in horse racing
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
ISSN: 2040-7149
Article publication date: 11 March 2021
Issue publication date: 4 August 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the findings and outcomes from research undertaken in 2016 on diversity in British horse racing. The last decade has seen increasing focus on improving gender balance in senior roles in most sectors. Motivation for change within horse racing came from women at a senior level, who identified that the industry was behind in this respect. This work offers a case study to consider, with a business case context, whether an initiative, driven from the top, can open up a conversation about inequality and precipitate change that benefits women across a whole sector.
Design/methodology/approach
This research took an action research approach using a survey alongside key stakeholder interviews.
Findings
The findings showed a diverse industry with complex career paths. Growing numbers of women have entered the sector, though this was often not reflected in women's seniority or in perceptions about their capabilities. Issues identified included the importance of mentoring, networking and career advice for women's progression, which are needed to navigate myriad career paths and male-dominated structures. The paper argues that investigating equality issues from a perspective of those in leadership roles can lead to pragmatic initiatives supporting women at all levels.
Originality/value
The originality of this paper is that it focuses on work which, for the first time, explored women's career participation in the horse racing industry. It challenges existing critiques of using a business case to promote gender equality.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: This work was supported by The Racing Foundation (reference: 104/122). The authors thank Women in Racing for their special support and encouragement during the data collection.
Citation
Manfredi, S. and Clayton-Hathway, K. (2021), "Gender equality and the business case in horse racing", Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Vol. 40 No. 6, pp. 653-666. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-02-2020-0035
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited