Gender Representations on the Cover of ESPN the Magazine, 1998-Present
Location
CSU 284A
Start Date
5-4-2010 10:00 AM
End Date
5-4-2010 12:00 PM
Student's Major
Human Performance
Student's College
Allied Health and Nursing
Mentor's Name
Cindra Kamphoff
Mentor's Department
Human Performance
Mentor's College
Allied Health and Nursing
Second Mentor's Name
Suzannah Armentrout
Second Mentor's Department
Human Performance
Second Mentor's College
Allied Health and Nursing
Description
Female athletes are considerably underrepresented in sport media and are only featured approximately 6-8% of the time (Fink & Kensicki, 2002; Kane, 1996; Kane & LaVoi, 2001). Kane and Buysse (2005) found that when the female athletes are featured in media, they are portrayed differently than male athletes. Femininity and attractiveness are typically emphasized when the media features female athletes (Kane & Buysse, 2005). Moreover, females tend to be shown in more gender appropriate sports that are individual in nature (i.e. tennis) and are more likely to be shown off the court, out of uniform and in sexualized poses (Kane & Buysse, 2005). The purpose of this study was to examine the covers of ESPN the Magazine for gender representation. A content analysis was conducted on the photographic images contained in 13 years (369 issues) of ESPN the Magazine from 1998 to February 2010. All covers were analyzed to determine gender representation, clothing coverage, type of sport, and action or posed representation. Codes were determined based on previous research (Armentrout & Kamphoff, under review). The content analysis revealed that females were substantially underrepresented on the covers of ESPN the Magazine. In fact, males outnumbered females 14-to-1. When females were featured (7%), the majority were depicted wearing tighter and less clothing, in feminine appropriate individual sports, and photographs that were posed. Since the magazine started, only 13 different female athletes have appeared on the cover. The presentation will expand on these findings and discuss the importance of more representative media coverage.
Gender Representations on the Cover of ESPN the Magazine, 1998-Present
CSU 284A
Female athletes are considerably underrepresented in sport media and are only featured approximately 6-8% of the time (Fink & Kensicki, 2002; Kane, 1996; Kane & LaVoi, 2001). Kane and Buysse (2005) found that when the female athletes are featured in media, they are portrayed differently than male athletes. Femininity and attractiveness are typically emphasized when the media features female athletes (Kane & Buysse, 2005). Moreover, females tend to be shown in more gender appropriate sports that are individual in nature (i.e. tennis) and are more likely to be shown off the court, out of uniform and in sexualized poses (Kane & Buysse, 2005). The purpose of this study was to examine the covers of ESPN the Magazine for gender representation. A content analysis was conducted on the photographic images contained in 13 years (369 issues) of ESPN the Magazine from 1998 to February 2010. All covers were analyzed to determine gender representation, clothing coverage, type of sport, and action or posed representation. Codes were determined based on previous research (Armentrout & Kamphoff, under review). The content analysis revealed that females were substantially underrepresented on the covers of ESPN the Magazine. In fact, males outnumbered females 14-to-1. When females were featured (7%), the majority were depicted wearing tighter and less clothing, in feminine appropriate individual sports, and photographs that were posed. Since the magazine started, only 13 different female athletes have appeared on the cover. The presentation will expand on these findings and discuss the importance of more representative media coverage.
Recommended Citation
Milius, Igne E.. "Gender Representations on the Cover of ESPN the Magazine, 1998-Present." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 5, 2010.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2010/oral-session-03/4
