Media Representation of Women in Sports

Abstract

Abstract Background: Throughout history the media has represented female athletes in ways that promote body image issues among young women athletes looking up to those who are represented. The media is one of the largest platforms of dispersing information so it is important that what is being presented is correct and appropriate. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine how these pieces of media affect young women athletes and the ways that these pieces of media can be changed to prevent body image issues. Design and Method: The research method is based on current literature regarding the way the media misrepresents women athletes, the way black women athletes are especially misrepresented, and how the way the media portrays women is damaging for young women who are using these pieces of media for inspiration. Specific journal articles and pieces of news are analyzed and reported in the Results section. The research questions are as followed: How does race also play into the misrepresentation of women in sports? How is the way we see female athletes in the media right now incorrect? How is the way women are portrayed in the media damaging for young women? Results: The significance of this study is that the way the media represents female athletes is both misleading and damaging. Many young women athletes use these pieces of media as either inspiration or confidence and unfortunately the exact opposite happens. Body image issues are extremely common especially in young women athletes and it is a necessity that new forms of media representing women athletes are developed. Conclusions: Individuals, especially young women athletes must realize that most pieces of media featuring women athletes are almost always altered in some way such as sports posters of women being extremely glamorized and sexualized with an unrealistic beauty standard. Pieces of media featuring women athletes in their element with no photoshop or any changes need to become more present in society. Keywords: Body image, media representation, women athletes, self esteem, sports, black women in sports, false representation, sexualization