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You might be thinking that this is going to be an article all about how women should have the same opportunities as an athlete in the sporting world as a male.
You would be wrong. Today I would like to address the issue of sexism in the media.
I know a lot of women who love sport but they never considered a career in sports media because ‘that’s a man’s job’ or it’s so typically thought to be. The ratio of men to women in sports media continues to astound me as sports news programs continue to be anchored by men and the leading reporter in the sports section is a male. I’m not saying that there are no female reporters involved in the sports world, but most of you will only be familiar with the stories of them getting treated poorly.
You would be familiar with the story of Mel Mclaughlin, the women who was covering a Big Bash game when Chris Gayle attempted to flirt with her live on air. She was doing her job – the one she went to university, the same as any man, in order to do. She didn’t deserve to be hit on in a professional environment like that it wouldn’t happen to a man, so why should it happen to a woman? It shouldn’t.
Everyone seems so positive towards equality in sport yet it still remains an issue. Men need to learn to respect the intellectual value of the women not her physical appearance. Women go to university to study our profession and after that we would like to be faced with the same opportunities.
Here’s how we fix this issue. For one second consider you are at your job and despite being fully qualified you never have the same opportunities as the guy whose desk is right next to you. That’s what it’s like for any women involved in sport. Next time you’re watching a woman report on something in sport feel proud. Proud that we are evolving into a nation where sport is for both men and women to enjoy.
It will never be the same between men and women in the sporting industry but we can at least try to incorporate and appreciate women stepping into a world less common to them.
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