A STUDY ON SURMOUNTING DIFFICULTIES: A FEMALE SPORTS FACILITATOR IN A MALE-DOMINATED DOMAIN.

Abstract

Even while women’s sports coverage is growing, it is still far lower than male-dominated sports. One factor that keeps women’s sports in the shadows is the pitiful coverage and lack of discussion around the topic by the journalistic community. To address a lack of literature on the topic, this study will interview female sports journalists in detail to get insight into their professional identities and thoughts on the place of women’s sports coverage in the media. Many of the participants were female athletes who wished for more positive coverage of their sports activities in the future, believing that digital journalism technologies and a more diverse newsroom would make that happen. Over the last several decades, many have voiced their concerns about gender prejudice in the workplace. Statistically, women make 80% of men’s income. This information comes from the National Partnership for Women and Families. Women face wage discrimination in all industries, and this number accurately portrays that. However, it is important to not overlook the various types of discrimination that women face. What stands out is the shocking lack of female athletes, who have long been a part of this male-dominated industry. However, women’s lack of enthusiasm for the area is only one of the reasons for its under-representation. There may be more women’s sports, but the media still pays a lot less attention to them. Although women’s sports are already under-represented in the media, the pathetic number of journalists covering and discussing these events just makes the problem worse. This research aims to address a gap in the researchers understanding by conducting in-depth interviews with female sports journalists to learn about their experiences working in the field and their perspectives on the portrayal of women in sports media today.