“You either stop reacting or you don’t survive. There’s no other way”: the work experiences of Polish women sports journalists

“How Can They Like Doing That?” The Ambivalent Definition of Legitimate Work in Sports Journalism

“…Scholars have analysed female reporters' difficult experiences in sports newsrooms including (1) their obligations to constantly fight for recognition and to keep their jobs in what remains a 'men's environment' (Organista & Mazur, 2019), and (2) the resulting tensions in their identities and challenges in their personal lives (Whiteside & Hardin, 2010;Organista & Mazur, 2019). This makes it harder for women to access this journalistic domain (Laucella et al, 2017) and may discourage them from participating in sports news (Schmidt, 2015).…”

“…They face difficulties in obtaining opportunities to cover prestigious sports, championships, and highly regarded sports events (Chambers et al, 2004;Ricchiardi, 2005). They also more frequently report on less known sports, women's sport, and sports for people with disabilities (Organista & Mazur, 2019). Scholars have further questioned the horizontal segregation at a micro-level, namely the gendered division in the types of stories reporters are assigned in relation to the gender stereotyping of skills.…”

“…Sports journalism has faced two main criticisms in sociological literature. First, it is viewed as a discredited journalistic speciality within the media field (Rowe, 2007;Boyle et al, 2010), and second, as male territory that reflects the hegemonic masculinity of sports and promotes masculine ideals (Schmidt, 2015;Organista & Mazur, 2019). These views on sports journalism are indeed necessary and relevant, but they can be criticised for two reasons.…”

The Gender of Sports News: Horizontal Segregation and Marginalization of Female Journalists in the Swiss Press

“…The extensive literature on women and sport shows that sport is a male domain, structured around hegemonic masculine values that contribute to the reinforcement of historical gender norms (Connell, 2001). Research indicates that the hegemonic masculinity that exists in sport is reflected in sports newsrooms (Whiteside & Hardin, 2012), which remain a “men’s environment” (Organista & Mazur, 2019; Schmidt, 2015). Structural and organizational barriers have caused sports newsrooms to be dominated by men and women to be treated as outsiders, and these barriers have had longstanding relevance in the literature on women working in sports journalism.…”

“…First, studies have revealed a vertical segregation; women remain few in sports media workplaces and typically occupy lower-ranked positions in their organizational hierarchies (e.g., Hardin et al, 2008; Laucella et al, 2017; Nicholson et al, 2011; Schoch & Ohl, 2011). Overall, studies expose gendered discrimination, difficulties in terms of work–family conciliation, a glass ceiling, female reporters’ necessity to constantly fight to gain recognition and keep their jobs, and resulting tensions in their identity (e.g., Hardin & Shain, 2005, 2006; Organista & Mazur, 2019; Whiteside & Hardin, 2010) . The combination of such factors contributes to women sports journalists’ reduced job satisfaction and often, ultimately, their tendency to leave sports journalism (Hardin & Whiteside, 2012; Hardin et al, 2008; Strong, 2007).…”