The fight for gender equality within sports media and journalism has seen some success, yet true equality still does not exist in the field. Being a woman in sports journalism is not easy. The intimidation that comes with being a woman in a man-dominated environment is something women have been forced to get used to.
In recent years, women have entered into more prominent positions in sports media. Right here in Philly in 2021, Kate Scott, became the official voice of the 76ers and the second woman in NBA history to be a full-time broadcaster. Still, only 11.5% of the sports reporters in the USA and Canada are women.
When I initially had interest in getting into this profession, I never thought about my gender being a factor in what I wanted to do. I was raised with the mentality of “If I have a passion for something, who has the right to stop me from achieving it?”
Growing up and entering the “real world,” however, has put me in situations where I question if this is the right choice for me. I hear the backlash that Kate Scott gets simply because she is a woman. I have realized that, although it isn’t easy trying to pursue a male-dominated occupation, it is possible with some confidence and determination.
I have become very aware of being the only woman at times in a press conference room, or sitting on the sidelines watching and reporting for a game. It truly is nerve wracking.
However, something I have learned while becoming more passionate about sports journalism is that I am just as capable as the men who are doing the same things as me.
What draws me so much toward sports media and journalism is how much it brings people together. It is a community where people truly love what they do. I realize how lucky I am to have the support that I have surrounded myself with, but I also realize that it is not going to always be this easy.
As a society, we have a lot more work to do when it comes to normalizing women in sports. We are taking the steps in the right direction to become more involved in sports media and journalism, but we are nowhere close to where it should be.
