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).