Promoting the participation of women: agenda setting in Swiss sports federations

Abstract

Following observations that efforts to promote female participation vary across sports federations, this study employs the multiple stream model to analyse agenda setting towards promotion programmes in Swiss sports federations. Through qualitative expert interviews in three case studies (football, ice hockey, and badminton), the study analyses why and when gender policies encouraging female participation at the grassroots level appear on a sports federation agenda. The findings show that the availability of external funding and the adaptation of external projects are essential opportunities for promotion activities. Engaged actors institutionalised within federations or emerging from personal commitment play a crucial role in seizing and exploiting opportunities. The study provides a conceptual contribution to the analysis of agenda setting of policies outside federations’ daily business and offers empirical insights to assist stakeholders in promoting women’s participation. Recommendations include involving committed individuals, especially in male-dominated sports, and securing (external) support to facilitate structural changes at the grassroots level.