Academic Major: Women's & Gender Studies
Title: Foul On the Play!: Examining gender inequities in American professional sports
The wage gap and sexism in media are two of the most documented and discussed inequalities faced by female athletes in the United States (Forbes 2022; Musto, Cooky, and Messner 2017). Most of the research and media attention surrounding gender inequity deals with student-athletes, Title IX, and the NCAA (Druckman, Rothschild, & Sharrow, 2018). Outside of collegiate sports, attention to gender inequities resurfaces during major women's tournaments, but little documentation exists in the academic literature. Other factors that contribute to gender inequity such as professional opportunities and league size, injury frequency, access to proper facilities and equipment, and advertising are rarely highlighted. To solve these inequities, they must be documented, and their impact examined. The goal of this research is to fill this gap by analyzing existing data and the experiences of professional female athletes. My research question is, What are the disparities that affect professional female athletes and what are the effects?
To answer this question, I will develop an exploratory, multi-method research study. I will contact professional women's sports organizations, such as US Soccer and the WNBA, and professional associations, such as Just Women's Sports, to access statistical data and seek interview opportunities with key informants. I will conduct qualitative interviews with professional athletes, coaches, and executives about their experiences and perceptions of inequities in women's sports. My research design is multi-method because there may be little in the way of statistical data; conducting interviews will help me to fill in the gaps. I will refine the scope of the project as I begin collecting data. Besides presentations at academic conferences, I will share my research via a blog.
As a women's & gender studies major, I am excited to combine my passion for women's sports with my desire to research gender inequities. This project will require resources and time not available in a single class or semester; the experience I will gain will help me as I complete my degree and apply to graduate school. My career goal is to work in women's sports and doing this project as a Presidential Scholar will prepare me well.
References:
- Abrams, Olivia. 2022. "Why female athletes earn less than men across most sports." Forbes. Retrieved October 2023 (https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliviaabrams/2019/06/23/why-female-athletes-earn-less-than-men-across-most-sports/?sh=1128fb6740fb).
- Druckman, J.N., Rothschild, J.E. and Sharrow, E.A. 2018. "Gender policy feedback: Perceptions of sex equity, Title IX, and political mobilization among college athletes." Political Research Quarterly 71(3): 642-653. (doi:10.1177/1065912917753078)
- Musto, M., Cooky, C. and Messner, M.A. 2017. "'From fizzle to sizzle!' Televised sports news and the production of gender-bland sexism." Gender and Society 31(5): 573-596. (doi:10.1177/0891243217726056.)