Content Analysis of Sports Illustrated Articles Depicting Women's and Men's College Basketball

<p>Despite an increase in women’s participation in basketball, equal representation and portrayal of female athletes in comprehensive media coverage remains in question. This study examines the portrayal of femininity and masculinity in sports magazine articles and explores how they may reinforce hegemonic masculinity. A content analysis of <em>Sports Illustrated</em> articles for a full season was performed. Three themes support theories of hegemonic masculinity: comparison to male greats, mentioning male family members, and presence of default assumptions. Additionally, two themes emerged involving the tendency for sports authors to depict athletes in accordance with gender inequality. Overall, the <em>Sports Illustrated</em> articles analyzed provide support for literature about bias in media depictions and representations of female athletes.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MA (Master of Arts)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - unrestricted

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Wilson, Kalah

• hegemonic masculinity
• Sports Illustrated
• gender
• Gender and Sexuality
• Sociology

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright by the authors.

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1218

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-2404