Erin Andrews is one of the most well known female sports reporters in the United States.

Research

Research shows that sports journalism’s lack of attention towards women’s sports has greatly contributed to the division among genders on television.  This division derives from sports journalism’s attempt to reestablish tradition among femininity and masculinity.  Sports journalism’s obvious preference for men’s sporting events over women’s has led to the reinforcement of stereotyping and belittling women, as was done in the past when men were thought to be superior to women.  Harden (2009) explains that sports media tend to privilege men while denying women equal media exposure as well as opportunity (p. 431).  Harden describes this marginalization of female athletics in the media as a way to reinforce the idea that women are less athletic than men (p.431).

Research Question

I researched whether or not there is gender bias in the field of sports journalism.  This topic is important because women have constantly been discriminated against throughout history, and unfortunately such discrimination has not completely ceased.  Gender bias against women occurs in the field of sports journalism and does so in two different ways.  First of all, the media offers more coverage time for men’s sporting events than it does for women’s sporting events.  Furthermore, sports networks and companies are more likely to hire a male sports journalist, rather than a female sports journalist.  I have found much research that proves the existence of such gender bias in the field of sports journalism and my research will include examination and explanation of such research.

Gender bias in sports journalism TESTING