As a female interested in sports journalism, I was particularly interested in Hardin's article on females in sports. According to Hardin, 11% of employees in sports departments are women, while 38% of employees in news departments are female. The ratio of the genders in sports media is nothing new, but the gap, when put into qualified numbers, is still striking. Hardin reports that women can "expect to face sexual harassment, not only in the locker room, but also in the workplace." After three internships in sports media, I cannot say I have found any of that to be true. I have no expectations except that I have no merit until I prove myself worthy, just like everyone else, male or female.
Hardin argues that if more females were in sports media, their visibility would increase, and young women would be more inclined to pursue a career in sports journalism. I don't necessarily agree with her statement. While more female role models would make it easier to pave a path for others interested in the career, it isn't the only way. I chose this profession, regardless of the barriers and without a female role model to mold my path after. I got into sports because I loved the competition, the cultural impact, and the subject matter.
I would rather be valued for my merit than for my gender, and while my opinion is not always taken as seriously as that of my male counterparts, it holds little weight over how I conduct myself. I still aspire to be a hard worker, a passionate employee, and a talented writer, regardless of who listens to me or does not. The same is true of men in the field. Everyone who is first starting out looks to make an impression and has to prove their merit. Perhaps the process is more visible for women, but the process remains the same for every new journalist in sports.
She also addresses the sentiment that women feel they are under constant pressure to prove themselves. While surrounded by males who, like myself, have a passion for many, many different sports, I constantly feel the need to prove that I know just as much as they do, and am just as much in the loop as they are, warranted or not. But with anything, once I develop a solid rapport with those around me, my opinion is valued and the need to prove myself is severely minimized. .
In the piece by Eschrich on Bill Simmons, I enjoyed how he profiled Simmons as the common man who could easily relate to fans: "Simmons avoids locker rooms, press boxes, and interviews with coaches and players. He sacrifices access in order to retain an Everyman perspective and continued zeal for his subject" (Eschrich 3). Fans "imagine him as a buddy" and he is able to relate to his own demographic. He does not need extensive access to have an opinion and draws on his cultural identity to connect with his peers, making Simmons an icon. Fans have different expectations from Simmons than from the anchors on ESPN or from the sports reporters on television or the columnists in the daily paper.
Paper Topic:
For my paper, I would like to write about the 400m sprint in the 2012 London Games. South African runner Oscar Pistorius competed, finishing second in his heat and coming in last in his semifinal. While his performance may seem unimpressive on paper, Pistorius, a double-amputee, caputured the hearts of fans around the world, embodying the Olympic ideals and spirit as well as bringing attention to a previously hidden subject. Pistorius competing in the Games proved that despite his disability, he could achieve what most able-bodied individuals could not achieve and compete in the Olympics. Pistorius also brought light to the Paralympic Games, creating an entirely new audience, and showing, through track and field, many important values and lessons.
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