Women in sports journalism: the status, the progress, and the sexism

Abstract

It’s no secret that women face challenges in certain industries that their male counterparts do not, and the sports journalism field is no exception. The historical male dominance of sport and the restrictive locker room men’s club mentality tends to extend to sports writing and broadcasting. While strides have been made since the passing of Title IX and court rulings that have allowed women sports reporters into locker rooms, the sports journalism industry lags behind when it comes to progress. Lack of gender diversity on sports desks, in decisionmaking positions, and in roles that men have dominated for decades all contribute to this stagnation. Women in sports are continuously touted as the “sexy sideline reporter,” are accused of lacking knowledge because of their gender, and receive criticism for the sound of their voice. Despite these challenges with sexism, female sports journalists of decades past and today are the front line fighting for change so that a new generation can be inspired and make women in sports journalism the norm, rather than the topic of a thesis. The industry is not perfect and has a long way to go. But slowly, progress is being made.