Social Issues in Sport Management
Masumeh Fadaeidehcheshmeh; Seyed Reza Hosseini Nia; Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati; Hadi Bagheri
Abstract
Objective: The present research was conducted with the aim of investigating the role of sport in women's identity formation in Iran.Methodology: This study was conducted using an exploratory mixed-methods approach. In the qualitative phase, a constructivist grounded theory approach (Charmaz) was employed, ...
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Objective: The present research was conducted with the aim of investigating the role of sport in women's identity formation in Iran.Methodology: This study was conducted using an exploratory mixed-methods approach. In the qualitative phase, a constructivist grounded theory approach (Charmaz) was employed, while the quantitative phase utilized Fuzzy DANP, a technique within multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM). The qualitative sample included female athletes at amateur, championship, and professional levels, as well as national team coaches and academic experts in sports management and sociology specializing in women’s sports research, until theoretical saturation was reached. In the quantitative phase, 15 experts knowledgeable about women’s sports and professional female athletes were selected. The research instruments comprised semi-structured interviews for the qualitative phase and a Fuzzy DANP pairwise comparison questionnaire for the quantitative phase.Results: The analysis of 380 initial codes in this study resulted in 41 focused codes (concepts), which were ultimately reduced to 9 main categories. Eight of these primary categories were identified as influential factors in women’s identity formation and subsequently prioritized using the Fuzzy DANP pairwise comparison method. The results of the Fuzzy DANP analysis indicate that these factors do not have equal influence. Among them, the role of coaches (0.1317) emerged as the most influential factor in the identity formation process, followed by empowerment of women in other aspects of life through sports (0.1302), gender stereotypes (0.1293), and enhancement of women’s psychological strength through sports (0.1287). In contrast, factors such as overt gender discrimination (0.1269), gendered perspectives on sports disciplines (0.1212), obstacles created through regulations (0.1177), and low levels of women’s physical literacy (0.1141) ranked lower in terms of influence.Conclusion: The process of women’s identity formation through sports is primarily influenced by supportive and empowering factors, particularly the role of coaches, whereas structural barriers and gender-based discrimination exert a comparatively lesser impact. Therefore, strengthening the role of coaches, enhancing empowering sports opportunities, and reforming discriminatory policies can facilitate the identity development of women in the athletic context.
Social Issues in Sport Management
Seyyedeh Zahra Mirzamani; Shahram Shafiee; Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to conduct a meta-synthesis of the mechanisms of corruption in Iranian football based on a sociological approach.Methodology: Employing a qualitative approach, this study followed Sandelowski and Barroso's (2007) meta-synthesis framework. Data were derived from 29 peer-reviewed ...
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Objective: This study aims to conduct a meta-synthesis of the mechanisms of corruption in Iranian football based on a sociological approach.Methodology: Employing a qualitative approach, this study followed Sandelowski and Barroso's (2007) meta-synthesis framework. Data were derived from 29 peer-reviewed scientific articles published between 2015 and 2025, identified through a systematic search of reputable Persian-language (n=23) and English-language (n=6) databases. Thematic coding was employed for data analysis.Results: Based on the data analysis, the mechanisms of corruption in sport were identified and classified into 63 initial codes, 21 sub-themes, and 6 overarching themes, including structural and governance deficiencies, an opaque and rentier economy, a corruption-prone culture and unhealthy norms, an inefficient legal and judicial system, informal and relationship-based networks, and international factors and globalization.Conclusion: In light of the findings, corruption in Iranian football stems from dysfunctional governance frameworks, a rent-seeking economy, and a culture of informal relations. Unless these deeply embedded institutional and cultural vicious cycles are rectified, intermittent and individual-level enforcement actions will prove futile. Lasting reform can only be achieved through institutional reconstruction, full transparency, and the substitution of informal patronage networks with genuine merit-based systems.
Samaneh Nazari; Rahim Ramezaninejad; Hamid Reza Goharrostami; Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this research was to analyze the dominant approaches in women's sports with an emphasis on gender analysis.Methodology: The current research was qualitative research and used thematic analysis method. Therefore, 150 valid research articles were analyzed and coded based on conceptual ...
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Objective: The purpose of this research was to analyze the dominant approaches in women's sports with an emphasis on gender analysis.Methodology: The current research was qualitative research and used thematic analysis method. Therefore, 150 valid research articles were analyzed and coded based on conceptual commonality (gender approache in sport) and purposive sampling technique. The research validation method was also applied based on the presentation and feedback of the research results to the experts for its final approval.Results: Based on the theme analysis of the research data, from 11 basic themes were extracted three organizing themes including the domination of gender norms in sports, media representation of women's sports and gender discrimination in sports were identified, which were able to represent the central theme of gender dominant approaches in women's sports.Conclusion: Based on three basic themes, the change in the roles, attitudes and beliefs of the society towards women's sports can change the gender norms in sports; Quantitative and qualitative representation of women's sports in the media and social media to make appropriate objectification of women's participation; And finally, the establishment of gender equality in rights and benefits, resources, education and management can lead to a better understanding of women's sports and, as a result, create policies and strategic plans in this field.
