Laura J. Burton, Ph.D.
Department Head, Educational Leadership | University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT, UNITED STATES
Professor focused on management in sports organizations and how gender stereotypes affect women working in athletics.
Biography
Her research interests include understanding leadership in organizations (particularly sport organizations) and exploring development, access and success in leadership. In her work, Laura focuses on issues of gender in leadership contexts and specifically how stereotypes and discrimination impact women in sport leadership.
Areas of Expertise (6)
Gender Stereotypes
Access and Success in Leadership
Sport Management
Gender Issues in Sport
Leadership in Sport Organizations
Gender
Education (3)
University of Connecticut: Ph.D., Social Science of Sport, Sport Management 2002
Illinois State University: M.S., Physical Education, Athletic Training Concentration 1995
Fairfield University: B.S., Biology 1992
Affiliations (3)
- Journal of Intercollegiate Sport, Editor in Chief
- Journal of Sport Management, Editorial Board Member
- Women in Sport and Physical Activity, Editorial Board Member
Accomplishments (3)
Research Methods Track: Best Paper (professional)
Eastern Academy of Management International. Authors: Gilson, L.G., Burton, L.J., Lowe, K., & Goldberg, C.
Outstanding Perspectives Manuscript Award (professional)
National Athletic Training Association / Athletic Training Journal. Authors: Burton, L.J. & Mazerolle, S.
2011 Outstanding Perspectives Manuscript Runner-Up Award (professional)
National Athletic Training Association / Athletic Training Journal. Authors: Burton, L.J. & Mazerolle, S.
Links (2)
Media
Publications:
Documents:
Videos:
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Media Appearances (1)
The war on women coaches
The Conversation online
2019-06-04
During the past women’s college basketball season, two prominent head coaches, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill’s Sylvia Hatchell and Georgia Tech’s MaChelle Joseph, were fired.
Event Appearances (3)
Unpacking Gender Bias in Sport Leadership: Identification to Analysis to Change
2019 Women’s Frozen Four; Women’s Coaches Symposium Quinnipiac University
2019-03-01
Women in Leadership: Stereotypes and Gender Roles
University of Connecticut Women’s Advancement Conference University of Connecticut
2015-01-01
Evaluation of the influence of intercollegiate athletic participation on perceptions of leadership potential
Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management Research Seminar University of Massachusetts
2014-04-01
Articles (6)
Shared ownership of inclusion policy is the surest path to safer sports workplaces
Sports Business JournalElizabeth Taylor, Katie Sveinson, and Laura Burton
2024-06-24
Nike. Washington Commanders. Phoenix Suns. Each of these sports organizations made headlines for issues with sexism and sexual harassment. Unsurprisingly, women working in sports experience negative effects. Women across all industries are almost three times more likely to leave their jobs when they feel excluded. One woman said about the climate at her organization: “It makes me resent sports in general, which is heartbreaking because it’s my biggest passion.”
Gender role expectations and the prevalence of women as assistant coaches
Women in Sport Leadership: Research and Practice for ChangeJournal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education
2017 While the percentage of women head coaches of collegiate teams has consistently declined since 1972, the number of women assistant coaches continues to rise and currently represents the largest group of women employed in college athletics. Because the positions of head coach and assistant coach place similar demands on the women in these roles, the differing trends for these positions are perplexing.
Servant leadership in sport for development and peace: A way forward
QuestJon Welty Peachey, Laura Burton
2017 The field of sport for development and peace (SDP) has been growing exponentially, with many organizations and academics embracing the possible contribution that sport can make to development. To date, leadership in sport for development and peace has not been conceptualized.
Pervasively offside: An examination of sexism, stereotypes, and sportscaster credibility
Communication & SportMichael Mudrick, Laura Burton, Carolyn A Lin
2016 Women remain underrepresented in sport media despite increased opportunities in other facets of sport and journalism. Further, women who have held positions in sport media are often perceived as being less credible than men in the field. In an effort to understand why these perceptions exist, the present study examined the influence of gender-role stereotyping and sexism on perceived sportscaster credibility.
The double bind for women: Exploring the gendered nature of turnaround leadership in a principal preparation program
Harvard Educational ReviewJennie Miles Weiner, Laura J Burton
2016 In this study of nine participants in a turnaround principal preparation program, Jennie Miles Weiner and Laura J. Burton explore how gender role identity shaped participants' views of effective principal leadership and their place within it. The authors find that although female and male participants initially framed effective leadership similarly, their conceptualizations of themselves as leaders, the feedback they felt they received regarding their skills, and their access to employment were sharply divided based on gender and had real implications for how women viewed their leadership capabilities and potential success as school leaders.
The underrepresentation of women in sport leadership: A review of research
Sport Management Review2015 Despite increased participation opportunities for girls and women in sport, they are underrepresented in leadership positions at all levels of sport. The objective of this review is to provide a multilevel examination of available scholarship that contributes to understanding why there are so few women in leadership positions within sport. From a macro-level perspective, scholarship regarding the institutionalized practices of gender in sport is examined. The meso-level review includes stereotyping of leaders, issues of discrimination, and gendered organizational cultures. Finally research reviewed at the micro-level explores women's expectations in leadership positions, occupational turnover intentions, and the influence of symbolic interactionism on women's career advancement. In addition, the author identifies new research areas and additional recommendations for how best to increase the number of women in leadership positions in sport.
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