Suits and Ties vs. Stockings and Skirts

As Public Relations (PR) students we all wonder how, when or where we will find job placement upon leaving university, what field of PR we'd like to pursue, whether we chose the right profession to study and if we have done enough to become successful in the workforce.

After working with the Western Force and Rugby WA over the last few months I have been able to answer some of these questions, but have also created new ones. I have found a passion for PR in the sporting industry, I have chosen a profession that matches my interest in people, networking and events. I now, however, question the likelihood of me, as a female student, acquiring a PR role within the sporting industry and whether many advancement opportunities would be available within the company?

This topic has been touched on by a number of tutors during my studies at Curtin University.  They had mentioned the lack of male students studying PR and lack of males in the PR industry makes it more likely for them to find placement after university.  After researching journal articles based on gender roles in PR and I found that issues of salary differences, differing percentages of men and women in managerial roles and the barriers to women advancing in companies were frequently addressed. A study titled 'Gender differences in Public Relations Students' Career Attitudes: a Benchmark Study', confirmed many female students shared my concerns. 

At the Western Force there are a greater number of male staff, the office environment presents as being relaxed, interactions between staff members and the overall atmosphere creates a feeling of comradery. Every now and then you can feel as though you are part of the male locker room with the banter that ensues between co-workers. In the partnerships team there are two managers who are both male and there are five interns, all female. 
One of the managers mentioned he had hoped to hire more males this year as he already had two female interns continuing on from the previous year. Although the female applicants this year did not have the most extensive knowledge about rugby the interview process saw them successful in acquiring the positions. I have found that while my limited rugby knowledge has not affected my ability to provide effective PR it has given me something more to work towards. I have found a new appreciation for rugby and I'm enjoying not only improving my PR skills but also furthering my knowledge elsewhere. Being able to now contribute to conversations based around sport in the office is a small victory and it betters my performance when hosting corporate areas on game day. 

I do believe that my experience with the Western Force will help me in future job opportunities in the sporting industry, however, I feel as though I will need to make efforts to be considered equal against male applicants or employees in the future, but I'm up for the challenge. 

The women of Western Force