Analysis of Gender Portrayal in Sports Media and its Effect on Athlete Body Image
Open Access
- Author:
- Hart, Carly
- Area of Honors:
- Advertising/Public Relations
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Stephanie Madden, Thesis Supervisor
Ann Marie Major, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- advertising
public relations
media
sports
sports media
gender
body image
athletes
college athletes
NCAA
gender portrayal
gender in media - Abstract:
- The purpose of this study was to analyze and understand how collegiate athletes’ consumption of sports media affects their mental health and body image. The objective was to determine if any significant differences between male and female athletes and their reaction and relationship to sports media exists. Secondary research was collected from various scholars and studies surrounding gender in sports, the history of sports media, and what has already been said about the media’s effect on athletes’ body image. Primary research in this study involved a survey distributed to college athletes who attend U.S. universities and two focus group discussions with student-athletes from the Pennsylvania State University. The survey included personal questions surrounding media consumption and body-image satisfaction, and answers were then analyzed and measured quantitatively. The focus groups were divided into a male group and a female group as a qualitative method to examine any similar or different conversations and themes amongst the two genders. Findings revealed that while college-level athletes do consume sports media daily, the media alone has minimal direct effect on their body-image satisfaction. Body-image levels among both male and female collegiate athletes depend more heavily on sport-specific factors that are amplified by the media. Thus, effects on body image have less to do with gender but more so with internal elements of specific sports, such as uniform, popularity, and coaches. Additionally, the findings revealed that both male and female college athletes are very aware of socially appropriate media portrayals of athletes, and both groups believe the media industry is progressing with more equal and morally responsible publications. Practical implications include a better understanding of college athletes’ psyche surrounding media they consume and are a part of. Findings can be used to actively promote and encourage mental health among all elite-level athletes.