LAUSR

ABSTRACT Women’s sport organizations face unique barriers that can shape the experiences of employees. However, research has yet to fully explore this phenomenon. We address this gap by using case study methodology and conducting semi-structured interviews with 28 United States-based current or recent past employees of women’s sport organizations. We use stigma theory alongside the related concepts of dirty work and emotional labor. Our findings highlight that structural stigma is a regular part of the workplace experience as employees observe the devaluation and mistreatment of women’s sport both in society at large and within the sport industry. These encounters influence employees as they personally field disparaging questions and comments based on their affiliation with women’s sport organizations. Such experiences with stigma suggest that working in women’s sport is a form of dirty work, an occupation that is devalued. Further, frequent disrespect and devaluation require employees to engage in emotional labor to manage their responses and continue to perform their core job tasks. Despite these difficult experiences, women’s sport employees have found ways to cope. One such way is focusing on how women’s sport is growing. As employees champion the growth narrative they actively contribute to the destigmatization of women’s sport and find meaning in their work. This helps them manage the stigma that continues to linger. These findings expose the ways in which sport employees experience and manage (de)stigmatization.