ATHLETES AND COACHES’ GENDER INEQUALITY: THE CASE OF THE GYMNASTICS FEDERATION OF PORTUGAL

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the gender-participation among Portuguese gymnasts and Portuguese coaches, according to gymnastics’ disciplines and geographical areas of Portugal. An individual-authorized data base of all national gymnasts involved in the National School of Gymnastics of the Gymnastics Federation of Portugal (Federação de Ginástica de Portugal) during three athletic seasons, namely 2012/2013, 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. Data from coaches was only available for the season of 2012/2013. In the athletic season of 2012/2013, from a sample of 14742 gymnasts, 81.2% were female and only 18.7% were male (P< 0.01). Similar results were found in the next two seasons as follows: 83.2% were female and 16.7% were male in 2013/2014 and 84.9% were female and 15.1% were male in 2014/2015. Significantly gymnasts-gender differences (P<0.01) were observed for all disciplines. In RG, WAG and MAG no differences between genders were observed due to the exclusive sport participation of female or male gymnasts, respectively. The same tendency of gymnasts’ genderparticipation was observed for coaches; thus, the majority of Portuguese coaches (57.7%) was female and 42.3% were male. The inclusion of gymnastics in sport events can increase female participation due to its characteristics.