Media coverage in womans sport

[bexter]

Ok, question time...

I'm doing some past GCSE papers and one of the questions is,

'Explain why woman's sport gets less media coverage than men's sport'

What do people think because I'm kinda stuck so could do with some help if anyones interested!

[*Carol*]

got a friend who's just been researching pretty much the same question, and suggests these links:

some articles:
https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/ ... index.html
http://member.aahperd.org/m_only/wspaj/ ... media.html
very american based: http://www.aafla.org/9arr/ResearchRepor ... eport3.htm

womens sport foundation uk

women.gov.au - media coverage in sports

hopefully they're of some use

[Mrs H.]

well one reason is probably a bit obvious - more men do sport on a regular basis than women - even in orienteering see how the male competitiors outnumber the female - now the reasons behind that are far more complex

[Guest]

I’m probably going to get killed for saying this but;

Men achieve greater overall and are generally recognised in most sport as being ‘better’

Now for some evidence to back this up.

Look at the classes verses courses at the recent JK.
The general trend is for the men todo the harder courses.

Look at the world records for where women and men compete on the same scale, eg a marathon the men’s word record is 2:04:55
And the women’s 2:15:25


People tend to want to see the best and so there for they want to see the men.

I would also add that this is not he only reasons and other reasons which I wont go into detail about include;
Men tend to be more competitive then women
More men enjoy take part in sporting activities (partially in aparent in schools) and are more interested in sport.
More men follow sport closely then women.
Women’s sport does not tent to get the funding that men’s does (the subject area and this go may go hand in hand)


I hope this is of some help and I’m not perceived as being to arrogant.

[Becks]

Hmmm...don't see how quoting the marathon world records proves your point? Surely the fact that women are catching men in this event despite a physiological disadvantage is just as, if not more impressive?

[Mrs H.]

I see no reason to be unduly defensive about guest - he is undoubtedly right - to a certain extent - but things are changing, look at the women's tennis tour - some say with the advent of the interminable men's big serve and volley game, the women's is better spectator sport - and they have certainly managed to get the investment. What would be interested to know whether the media coverage of women in sport is disproportionate to the number of women participating in sport.

The chances are, if you had a sporty mother, you will be a sporty girl and grow into a sporty woman. I think society is beginning to accept that sporty women can be attractive and not compromise their femininity by being sporty - an aspect which has prevented a lot of girls continuing in sport in a self-obsessed age. I believe that as the numbers of women in sport rise - the media coverage will increase possibly even ahead of the participation figures as women now also have a large stake in the reporting of sport (when i was a reporter that was an exclusively male domain - rather interesting when you worked in an all female office and had to do the sport anyway!)

[FatBoy]

I agree on that one Becks - the Marathon record is one that IMO actually completetly contradicts the Guest's argument.

By enlarge if you look at the top level in a lot of sports the levels between the sexes are basically the same. However in others it isn't true. E.g. football. There's lots of reasons why it isn't the same level e.g. level of support that goes in but the top English clubs in ladies play IMO about the same as top non-league men's sides.

I was flicking through the canoe slalom year book the other night actually looking at what age I become an old bloke and found the automatic GB squad selection levels - men 6%, women 28%

[PorkyFatBoy]

Some women just hate sport in all forms (Mrs PFB for example). They just don't comprehend the male competativeness thing. So they don't ever watch it or read about it.

Men however like sport and will watch it on TV for hours on end and then read about it in the paper the next day as well. (How many men start to read their newspaper from the sports page? - all of them).

Women have far better things to do with their time - like washing our O kit! raising our children, cleaning the house, nagging us to do the DIY, etc...

Sport will follow sponsors' money, which will be targeted for maximum exposure, therefore at men and men's sport.

I'm all in favour of women's sport of TV, especially beach volleyball.

[Guest]

i was pointing out the physiological disadvantage (not trying to show whos acivement was greater)

[Becks]

Men achieve greater overall and are generally recognised in most sport as being ‘better’

That's not pointing out a physiological disadvantage, which means that it's all relative. That's saying men are "better." Which they're not. My point about the marathon is women could well be achieving more than men, despite their times still being slower. Methinks you need to make your points clearer guest.

[bolder]

Apparently women could actually be better at men in ultra distance races. I'm not sure of the actual research but female body fat composition, and ability to store more water could give them a physiological advantage.

[a_different_guest]

It’s worth noting that at a primary level, media coverage is a supply and demand market(even more so now with digital TV). What can be inferred from this is that people want to watch more men’s sport then women.

But of course this only touches the surface and wiring an essay based on this point would be quite boring and probably quite short. The resasons behind this is where the real question is.

[Lilybet]

Bexter, you could also use the fact that Men in general are psychologically more competetive than women. They generally push themselves harder to be the best or to win by making an exciting competition to watch. Just an idea.

[Becks]

Lilybet - you've obviously never met Pippa or Cerys!

[Brizzle]

Lilybet - you've obviously never met Pippa or Cerys!

I think obviously there are going to be examples of v competitive women but I don't think Lilybet would be wrong in saying that in general men are more competitive.