Gender Discrimination In Sports Media
Progress has been made when it comes to equality of men and women in sport but there is still much room for improvement. Gender discrimination in sports media is one of the reasons for lack of progress. However, these newspapers, sport channels and magazines are simply giving readers what they want. The corporate sponsors and the fans are just as much to blame for lack of progress. The truth is that despite the vastly increased participation of women in sport, the amount of coverage they receive is much less than the men.
It is male athletes that corporates choose to sponsor because they know they will get more coverage as a result. Colleges award fewer athletic scholarships to women. Men who win major events receive more prize money than women and more money for endorsements too. This all reveals discrimination that needs to change so women athletes have the same advantages as the men.
Men revel in their physicality and look for ways to prove their dominance with their speed, power and strength. The field of sport gives them this opportunity and the media reinforces this all the way. The star status of football, basketball and hockey players is promoted at every opportunity. Many women are successful in these arenas too but one would not think so from the amount of recognition they receive. Even when they win gold medals at the Olympics, they do not receive as much attention in the newspapers and other media as the men.
Women still tend to be seen in the role of cheerleaders, spectators and supportive partners or mothers. They are under-appreciated for their own athletic prowess. Advertisements and commercials tend to portray them in a way that focuses on their looks rather than their skills.
Reporters seem to be mostly men and to report mostly on men. Less reporting on the achievements of women serves to limit the possibilities for talented female athletes. When they are given less coverage than their male counterparts, they become less important to sponsors who want to see their logos emblazoned all over the place when they invest money.
Women are often perceived as much weaker than men and people still feel that certain activities like weightlifting are inappropriate for them. Data suggests that women actually experience just as many benefits to their health and self esteem from participating in sport as men. Certain activities like swimming, skiing and ice-skating show more of a balance when it comes to coverage but even when it comes to tennis and cycling, men still dominate.
Women in sport are also affected by sexual innuendos. This is not helped by the fact that articles in magazines often do not only dwell on their sporting abilities but often discuss their appearance as well and other factors unrelated to their achievements.
All of these factors create a vicious cycle and prevent progress from being made. However, there have been some interesting developments such as the sponsoring of a website by some sponsors of sport that is devoted to female athletes and their accomplishments. This is a step in the right direction and hopefully the day will come when no-one has to suffer discrimination in any way when it comes to their participation in sport.
It is male athletes that corporates choose to sponsor because they know they will get more coverage as a result. Colleges award fewer athletic scholarships to women. Men who win major events receive more prize money than women and more money for endorsements too. This all reveals discrimination that needs to change so women athletes have the same advantages as the men.
Men revel in their physicality and look for ways to prove their dominance with their speed, power and strength. The field of sport gives them this opportunity and the media reinforces this all the way. The star status of football, basketball and hockey players is promoted at every opportunity. Many women are successful in these arenas too but one would not think so from the amount of recognition they receive. Even when they win gold medals at the Olympics, they do not receive as much attention in the newspapers and other media as the men.
Women still tend to be seen in the role of cheerleaders, spectators and supportive partners or mothers. They are under-appreciated for their own athletic prowess. Advertisements and commercials tend to portray them in a way that focuses on their looks rather than their skills.
Reporters seem to be mostly men and to report mostly on men. Less reporting on the achievements of women serves to limit the possibilities for talented female athletes. When they are given less coverage than their male counterparts, they become less important to sponsors who want to see their logos emblazoned all over the place when they invest money.
Women are often perceived as much weaker than men and people still feel that certain activities like weightlifting are inappropriate for them. Data suggests that women actually experience just as many benefits to their health and self esteem from participating in sport as men. Certain activities like swimming, skiing and ice-skating show more of a balance when it comes to coverage but even when it comes to tennis and cycling, men still dominate.
Women in sport are also affected by sexual innuendos. This is not helped by the fact that articles in magazines often do not only dwell on their sporting abilities but often discuss their appearance as well and other factors unrelated to their achievements.
All of these factors create a vicious cycle and prevent progress from being made. However, there have been some interesting developments such as the sponsoring of a website by some sponsors of sport that is devoted to female athletes and their accomplishments. This is a step in the right direction and hopefully the day will come when no-one has to suffer discrimination in any way when it comes to their participation in sport.
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