Racism in the Sport Media

A great struggle is being fought between certain sport clubs and universities and The National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media (NCRSM). The aim of NCRSM is to ban the usage of Native American names, spiritual and cultural symbols by professional sports, Hollywood, schools, and universities. In her work, Charlene Taters, a member of Native American community, says that The American Indian community for 50 years has worked to banish images and names like Cleveland's chief wahoo, Washington redskins, Kansas City chiefs or Atlanta braves. We work to remind people of consciousness of the use of the symbols resemblance to other historic, racist images of the past. Chief wahoo offends Indian people the same way that little black sambo offended African Americans and the frito bandito offended the Hispanic community and should have offended all of us. It assaults the principle of justice she argues. And really, such misusage of any cultural heritage can be translated as dishonoring step against certain social minority. In that case, this objectionable image spread throughout the media is causing a great damage. Taters illustrates this damage quite well. Using our names, likeness and religious symbols to excite the crowd does not feel like honor or respect, it is hurtful and confusing to our young people. To reduce the victims of genocide to a mascot is unthinking, at least, and immoral at worst. At this point, effort of NCRSM was not in vain. At least six universities have changed their names, the Los Angeles Board of Education voted to ban Indian images and names. Unfortunately, the sport clubs are still resisting the pressure. Therefore, there is- and will be- the ongoing battle.

The NCRSM exists to fight the powerful influence of major media who choose to promulgate messages of oppression. The impetus which formed NCRSM was the clear case of media coupling imagery with widely held misconceptions of American Indians in the form of sports team identities resulting in racial, cultural, and spiritual stereotyping.

Picture bellow is taken from National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media in order to illustrate the point.

Works Cited: Taters, Charlene. National Coalition on Racism in sports and Media.
www.aimovement.com
National Coalition on Racism in sports and Media.

Gender Stereotyping in the Mediated Sports

Mediated sports are reaching millions of viewers all over the world. With such range, there is a great power to make us accept the reflection of the world around, even thought if it is false reflection. They way how are these broadcastings created and presented are reflecting attitudes and beliefs of our society. In this essay, I would like to examine and compare differences in how are male and female athletes represented in the media, point out the differences and suggest solution if necessary.

Most of the facts which will be presented here are coming from article by Anita L. DeFrantz, the leader of the project examining gender stereotyping in the U.S.A sports media.

Coverage of men vs. women. According to DeFrantz, in a six week sample study women were underreported and underrepresented in comparison to men. Out of total air time (100%), 3% was dedicated to gender- neutral sports, 92% to men’s sports and only 5% to women’s sports. Considering there is actually more women than men in U.S.A society (51%), this is showing alarming imbalance.

Verbal Infantilization. Female athletes were verbally infantilized. Interestingly, some male color athletes were sharing this kind of this infantilization. For example, as LeFrantz asserts, female athletes were refered to as “girls”or young “ladies”. In contrast, male athletes were refered to as “men”, “young men” or young “fellas.” But never as “boys.” Furthermore, gender was graphically, visually and verbally marked (for example The Women’s National Basketball Championship). This has never occurred during the men’s play (commentators simply refered to as The National Basketball Championship). Another interesting fact is that female athletes were called by their first names (especially in tennis -52,7% of the time) much more frequently than males 7,8% of the time). Similar situation was in the basketball, with one difference however. First names were also used when discussing men of color. First name was never used when discussing male of white color.

Women as the sexual objects. LeFrantz wrote that “The television sports news did focus regularly on women, but rarely on women athletes. More common were portrayals of women as comical targets of the newscasters' jokes and/or as sexual objects (e.g., women spectators in bikinis).” It can be assumed that particularly this feature might be the most tricky and dangerous. If the media will be treating women as sexual objects, they could change and complicate viewer’s attitudes towards women in negative way and undermine women’s position in the society, which is strongly undesirable.

Suggested solutions: Balance in gender representation should be established, ideally is greater coverage with existing women sports. Commentators should avoid of referring to women athletes as to ‘girls’, because in some cases it might be unfair and offensive. Also, commentators should learn to equally name athletes by theirs first names and make no (even unconscious) difference in gender or skin color. And at the last point, treating women as sexual objects should be completely eradicated, since there is no doubt this trend is socially dangerous and inadmissible.

Note: Although these statistics showed that sport media are clearly more unfair against women, it should be noted that there exist little sexist language, sexualization and devaluation of female athletes than existed in the past. There is no doubt that there is conscious effort of some sport commentators to report sport events and news in proper, non- sexist way.

Works Cited:
DeFrantz, Anita. Gender Stereotyping in Televised Sports. www.la84foundation.org
http://www.la84foundation.org/9arr/ResearchReports/ResearchReport2.htm

Sport Media are Supporting Negative Sports Images

Do the media reinforce coarsening in our society? Gene Policinski, deputy director of the First Amendment Center in Nashville, thinks so. Talking about sports, it seems that bad behavior and sensationalism is actually “selling” the tickets. In his article, Kevin Jones wrote that “Various accounts noted that Tyson continues to enjoy broad fan support despite his involvement in brawls at news conferences, his tirades against reporters and his repeated brushes with the law”. Considering this, we may conclude that not only the sport media (and other media) are partly responsible for promoting ruthlessness and aggressive behavior. “Much of the public’s response could also be a contributing factor” Policinski said. And really, why are such athletes like Mike Tyson, who is a regular criminal, celebrated by the crowds after they cross the line of the law once again? Such actions of sport fans may support undisciplined athletes in repeating their unacceptable behavior. Also, Policinski is pointing out that “bad behavior by professional athletes also can have a ripple effect, encouraging children to become ruthless in competition and encouraging college athletes to become cheaters in the classroom”. If you think about it, where is the original idea of the sport? I am sure that sport was not meant to represent aggressive and outlawed behavior. I can only agree on the following Policinski’s quote: “I feel that what we are developing is a lust for blood sport. We are losing our ability to just enjoy the game."

To see the whole article by Kevin Jones, please click here.

Works Cited: Jones, Kevin. Media Share Blame for Negative Sport Images.
www.freedomforum.com
Media Share Blame for Negative Sport Images..

Ice Hockey Fights are Funny?

Sidney Crosby and Alexander Semin are one of the most gifted players in the current NHL. Both of them are the mainstays in their club. On 5th of January, both talented players experienced a hockey fight with a player from the opponent team, which is really not their greatest skill. But the articles and comments describing this confrontation were quite disturbing. Commentators and journalists laughed at the fight they saw- but how can be the physical confrontation between two men funny? Is it right to publicly present fights as something you should laugh at? Player of New York Rangers, Eric Staal, who was fighting already mentioned Alexander Semin, described his fight against young player like this: “I nearly laughed at him. It was ridiculous.” Now, in case that players are being publicly ridiculed because of the weak fight, is not it possible that these players will try the fight next time in more reckless and aggressive way in order to regain the lost pride? Or maybe Semin will crush down Staal in the next game as the punishment for his insulting comments? In any case, somebody can get hurt. Furthermore, some reporters are even encouraging players into the fights. Czech sport reporter Jiří Novák wrote in his article following sentences: “Crosby and Semin do not like each other very much. Maybe it is Semin’s fault, since he negatively commented the great media’s interest in Crossby. Perhaps these boys should talk this over on ice without the gloves and hockey sticks.”

To see the hockey fight I wrote about, please see the following video:


Works Cited: Novák, Jiří. Když se pere Malkin. www. hokej.sport.cz
http://hokej.sport.cz/clanek/142670-video-kdyz-se-perou-crosby-a-semin-muze-to- -i-k-smichu.html.

Useful Links Related to the Topic

There is more interesting topics which are related to the presented theme. Because some of them are too complex or complicated, I have decided to provide links so you can pursue them. In case you have enjoyed previous postings and articles, you might find following link very interesting and informative.

To learn more about sport press effects in on younger audiences, sport readers and the coverage of the sport news, please visit following webpage (research done by Wayne Wanta, University of Missouri):

Handbook of Sports and Media.

To learn more about messages of masculinity contained in the sport media, please visit

Messages about Masculinity.

Webpage linked above is analyzing sport programming in correlation with aggression, violence and injuries, sports, race and gender. Furthermore, this webpage is aimed on analyzing of commercials on sport channels, presented products, sponsorship and self-images. Whole work is complex, detailed and well composed.

Another useful article, however not so complex and much more abstract, about connection of the sport media and the masculinity can be found here.

Masculinity and Sports Media