Race, Gender And Gender Stereotypes In Sports

Katey Carmichael

Capstone Question

In recent years, communication within the field of sports has become a hot topic. The media has an enormous impact on society as well as culture. Sports media outlets shape our perceptions and at times can turn myths into realities. Our course textbook Strategic Sport Communication, states that “…the media create and fortify stereotypes because the public’s limited experience with these issues” (317). Many times it seems that the media tells the public what they should think, and how they should think it. The media can also create culture. In fact- the media maintains the status quo when it comes to the stereotypes of race, gender, and nationalism in sports.

One of the most common aspect of maintain the status quo comes with the negatively portrayal of

Researchers have found that women who play sports such as Tennis are far more likely to be features than a sport such as Basketball.

The textbook also explains that “…sport media promotes the patriarchal ideologies that permeate the U.S culture and reinforce perceptions of identify that reflect and mold the status quo” (325).

When I think of the term- nationalism, I immediately think about the Olympics. The text describes nationalism as “…nation building through sport” (329).

Conclusion

To conclude- the media needs to quit “maintaining” the status quo and allow the public to create their own opinions without persuasion when it comes to race, gender, and nationalism. Instead, the sports media needs to dispel common stereotypes when it comes to the coverage of these issues. Sport media is an important because nations and people can create their own identity which should be untarnished by reporters, broadcasters, and media. Across the world, the media is restricting the capacity for change. It is up to us to change the role of sport