Type of Presentation
Poster Session
Location
Virtual
Abstract
There is a significant amount of racial and gender bias in sports media, which can impact the way minority and female athletes are perceived by the public. This study closely looks at the way these professional athletes are talked about and treated by the media compared to white athletes. This study highlights the language used by commentators and other members of sports media that reinforces negative stereotypes that minority and female athletes deal with throughout their careers. Some of these stereotypes imply black athletes owe their success to natural physical ability, while white athletes are “smart” and more “skilled. This study examines the way that framing theory can be seen within the differences of words and context used to talk about these athletes. The rise of social media and it’s importance in the sports media world will also be examined, as biased and harmful attitudes towards these athletes are spread quicker because of the 24/7 nature of social media apps. The study focuses on examples from media coverage of the NFL, men’ and women’s college basketball, and the U.S Open tennis tournament that features both male and female athletes as well. The study calls for members of sports media to be wary of reinforcing negative stereotypes about minority and female athletes with the language they use. As it can have effects in the sports world, and can possibly alter how fans see people that fall under these minority groups in everyday life outside of sports.
Presentation File
wf_yes
Included in
Race and Gender Bias in Sports Media
Virtual
There is a significant amount of racial and gender bias in sports media, which can impact the way minority and female athletes are perceived by the public. This study closely looks at the way these professional athletes are talked about and treated by the media compared to white athletes. This study highlights the language used by commentators and other members of sports media that reinforces negative stereotypes that minority and female athletes deal with throughout their careers. Some of these stereotypes imply black athletes owe their success to natural physical ability, while white athletes are “smart” and more “skilled. This study examines the way that framing theory can be seen within the differences of words and context used to talk about these athletes. The rise of social media and it’s importance in the sports media world will also be examined, as biased and harmful attitudes towards these athletes are spread quicker because of the 24/7 nature of social media apps. The study focuses on examples from media coverage of the NFL, men’ and women’s college basketball, and the U.S Open tennis tournament that features both male and female athletes as well. The study calls for members of sports media to be wary of reinforcing negative stereotypes about minority and female athletes with the language they use. As it can have effects in the sports world, and can possibly alter how fans see people that fall under these minority groups in everyday life outside of sports.