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Literature Review; Explanations for the lack of coverage of female sports in the UK media

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Introduction

66-4947-00L Assessment and Employability Skills BA(Hons) Sport, Society and Culture Adam Cook ________________ Explanations for the lack of coverage of female sports participants in UK media This essay aims to explore the reasons behind the lack of coverage of female sports participants in the UK media. It is important in this essay to consider not just why this lack of coverage exists, but what evidence or previous research has been conducted to support these claims and with evaluation and analysis of this previous research, how much validity lies within these claims. This essay uses a variety of different texts from several authors and a few include Birell and Cole, Anne Flintoff and Beccy Watson's work with Sheila Scraton who has been predominantly used within this essay simply because whilst she is a contemporary author she regularly looks back and cites traditional research providing a great balance of different sources. From these authors there are several preliminary reasons constructed to explain the lack of coverage of female sports participants in the UK media and these are hegemonic features and traditions, gender role socialisations and the lack of interest within female sports itself. The evidence or previous research used to support the claims made are of both an old and contemporary nature, extracted from a variety of different texts. ...read more.

Middle

When analysing this study, whilst it is a slightly out dated and not used in a sporting context it provides one possible definition of both sex and gender. But one of the biggest problems that occur within a society that strives for equal gender rights is that both genders are socialised in different ways. A classic example is the use of colours in gender socialisation; in a contemporary UK society it is not uncommon to find young boys dressed in darker, ?masculine? colours such as blue compared to young girls with their ?feminised? pink. One study that supports this claim is Batman vs. Bratz (2011) where it was indeed found that whilst boys chose traditional ?masculine? colours, their female counterparts preferred their own traditional ?feminine? colours. Whilst it is possible to criticise this study for not being based around sport itself, it is contemporary, provides a simple explanation allowing progression onto the next point. Another important analysis to make on this study is that this is quantitative information; quick, easy information to obtain and provides results with figures. ?Physical Education in schools still offer different activities that are gender defined, and teaching can provide dominant gender ideologies? (Scraton & Flintoff 2002). Looking back at this study used earlier in this essay, this can be used well again when looking at the contribution of gender role socialisations to the lack of coverage of female sports participants in the UK media. ...read more.

Conclusion

All in all, the sources used within this essay are solid and are provided by widely recognised feminist writers e.g. Sheila Scraton. Referencing 1. Batman vs. Bratz (2011). Today?s Date: 12/11/12. Accessed 08/11/2012. at http://link.springer.com.lcproxy.shu.ac.uk/article/10.1007/s11199-011-9989-1/fulltext.html#Bib1 KARNIOL, Rachel. Sex Roles. A Journal of Research. Springer Science & Business Media. 2. Bernstein & Blain (2003). BERNSTEIN, Alina. & BLAIN, Neil. 2003. Sport, Media & Culture. Routledge. London & New York. 3. Creedon (1994) CREEDON, Pamela, J. 1994. Women, Media & Sport; Challenging Gender Value. Sage Publications. 4. Denver (1994). SCRATON, Sheila. & WATSON, Becca. 2000. Sport, Leisure Identities & Gendered Spaces. Leisure Studies Association. 5. Fasting (1994) CLARKE, Gill. & HUMBERSTONE, Barbara. 1997. Researching Women in Sport. Houndmills, England, McMillan. 6. Rakow (1992) CREEDON, Pamela, J. 1994. Women, Media & Sport; Challenging Gender Value. Sage Publications. 7. Scraton & Flintoff (2002) SCRATON, Sheila. & FLINTOFF, Anne. 2002. Gender & Sport: A Reader. London, Routledge. 8. Scraton & Flintoff (2002) SCRATON, Sheila. & FLINTOFF, Anne. 2002. Gender & Sport: A Reader. London, Routledge. 9. Scraton & Flintoff (2002) SCRATON, Sheila. & FLINTOFF, Anne. 2002. Gender & Sport: A Reader. London, Routledge. 10. Scraton & Flintoff (2002) SCRATON, Sheila. & FLINTOFF, Anne. 2002. Gender & Sport: A Reader. London, Routledge. 11. Talbot (2001) SCRATON, Sheila. & FLINTOFF, Anne. 2002. Gender & Sport: A Reader. London, Routledge. ________________ Sport Programme Faculty of Health & Wellbeing Sheffield Hallam University Page ...read more.

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