TOOLS FOR ADVOCATING CHANGE

5. Non-Sexist Sport Commentary for the Media

Description of the Tool

This tool is a simple guide to educate media on the appropriate portrayal of female athletes and coaches in their commentaries. It addresses the common areas where descriptions often under-value women: names, events and language.

In addition, the Women’s Sports Foundation in the United States of America provides question and answers about media coverage of women's sports. They receive over 100,000 questions a year and have prepared answers to those most frequently asked.

When to Use it?

  • When you want to educate sports reporters or commentators on how to describe female athletes
  • When you want to prepare media for upcoming events, e.g., Olympics, local championship
  • When you need to respond to questions or concerns about media coverage.

Format

The tool is structured as an article or handout. You may wish to send parts to your local or national media. The question-answer section may be circulated to assist your members in responding to questions or concerns on media.

Tool

Despite the growth of women's sports, media coverage is still largely devoted to men's sports and is described in masculine language by sport commentators. It is not uncommon to hear comments and descriptions that treat women athletes differently from men, often in ways that downplay or devalue their achievements. To ensure that women athletes are treated equally and fairly in sports commentary, here are some guidelines to follow:

Names

Just as male athletes are referred to as "men" or "young men", female athletes should be referred to as "women" or "young women", not “girls”, unless that is appropriate for their chronological age. Also use of first and last names should be consistent in coverage of men and women's events. For example, if it is Browning and Yagudin who skate with great skill, then it should be Yamaguchi and Kwan who do the same in the women's skating, not "Kristi” and "Michelle".

Events

In sports played by both men and women, there is a tendency for men's events to be referred to as the only game in town, as in "competition will be tough at this year's National Basketball Championship." To avoid this pitfall, events should be designated as either a men’s or women's competition.

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Descriptions

Avoid physical descriptions that place too much emphasis on physical appearances or skills not related to athletic performance. For example, "She is so lovely, you know, she really has a vulnerability that makes your heart warm to her, it fits her personality, a very appealing and vulnerable person.” Just as male athletes are generally viewed in terms of their athletic attributes so should female athletes.

Language

Here are some examples for using parallel terms, neutral words and adverbs and adjectives to describe male and female athletes:

Don't

Do

Parallel Terms:

Have you used parallel words when referring to females and males?

Men's team; ladies team, Mr. Smith, Sue Jones

Women and men

Mr. Smith, Ms, Mrs., or

Miss Jones

Neutral Words:

Have you used neutral words whenever possible?

He (to include both sexes)

Use neutral nouns such as: coach, trainer, sprinter

Modifiers:

Have you used appropriate adjectives and adverbs when describing athletes in competition?

Questionable words include

• Emotional

• Moody

• Shapely

• Cute

• Charming

• Well-built

• Bouncy

Appropriate words include:

·     Powerful

·      Skilled

·       Agile

·        Strong

·       Graceful

·        Swift

·        Capable 

 

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Most Frequently Asked Questions About Media Coverage: Women’s Sports Foundation USA

Q1.       Doesn’t the media cover female athletes less often because women aren't as interested in sports as men?

A1.       There is no evidence to support this contention. Nationwide data indicate that women make up 38-42 percent of all sport and physical activity participants. Yet, research indicates that sportswomen receive approximately 6-8 percent of the total sports coverage.

Q2.       What is wrong with wanting to portray women athletes as feminine and physically attractive?

A2.       There is nothing wrong with women wanting to look feminine/attractive from a traditional perspective. However, female athletes deserve the same respect for their athletic abilities as is afforded male athletes. When a female athlete appears in a sport publication or advertisement to promote a sport or fitness product, she should be portrayed as respectfully as is her male counterpart -- as a skilled athlete.

Q3.       What is the harm in portraying female athletes as pretty and feminine?

A3.       Images are powerful tools that shape and reflect attitudes and values. By portraying sportswomen either as sex objects or as "pretty ladies", the message is that sportswomen are not strong, powerful and highly skilled individuals. Ultimately, images that ignore or trivialize females undermine the importance of women's sports and respect for the abilities of female athletes.

Q4.      So what would you have the media do? What kind of images would make female athletes happy?

A4.       The media should simply reflect the reality of women's diverse sports experiences: from grace and beauty to physical strength, endurance and power. A balanced and realistic view is what is absent in the media. Young girls and women from all ages, races, and social class backgrounds are breaking down historical barriers to their participation. The media is obligated to reflect that reality (not the homophobia or stereotypes of individual reporters or advertisers) so that sportswomen (our daughters and sisters and moms) receive the admiration, dignity and respect they deserve.... the same admiration, dignity and respect afforded male athletes.

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