Out of Bounds: The Gender Bias in Sports Media Coverage

Abstract

This paper examines the coverage of female athletes through the lens of the Clark-Reese rivalry, analyzing how the treatment of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese by fans, commentators, and media outlets reflects broader societal biases. It explores how framing theory, which analyzes how media emphasizes certain aspects of an event while overlooking others, shapes public perception. The rivalry between Clark and Reese offers a compelling example, as Clark was often portrayed as a "classy" athlete, with her competitive gestures framed as expressions of passion, while Reese was frequently labeled as "classless" or "unsportsmanlike" for similar actions. This stark contrast highlights how racial and cultural biases influence the media’s portrayal of female athletes.

The paper is supported by a short documentary film that provides various examples to reinforce these points. The film includes interviews with Iowa State University women’s basketball players, who discuss the biases they face in media coverage. It also incorporates segments from news articles, social media reactions, and commentary from experts like Shannon Sharpe, illustrating how framing and stereotypes persist in sports media. The documentary also includes statistical insights, such as the record-breaking 18.9 million viewers for the Women's College Basketball Championship Game, emphasizing the growing visibility of women’s sports. Through these examples, the film complements the paper’s analysis by showcasing how media framing continues to perpetuate unequal power dynamics, contributing to the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of female athletes in mainstream sports coverage.