Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


ucin1307457173.pdf (561.95 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Gender Differences in the Portrayal of Athletes in Olympic Media Guide Profiles

Carter, Jennifer A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1307457173

Abstract Details

2011, MA, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Sociology.
The sporting world is one institution where gender differences are widely accepted as “natural,” and continue to be reaffirmed. The reaffirmation of these differences through the mass media that covers the sporting world has been well-researched. However, research on media forms created by sports organizations for distribution to mass media journalists, such as media guides and press kits, have been less researched. To my knowledge, just three studies examine the printed documents produced by sports organizations for distribution. This study fills a gap in research on materials produced by athletic organizations for distribution to the mass media. Studying these documents is important due to their use as credible sources within print and electronic media. This study explores the appearance of gender differences within the media guide profiles of athletes from the 2008 Olympic Games. In total, 635 U.S. athlete profiles from the 2008 Olympic Media Guide were analyzed, including the profiles of 326 male athletes and 309 female athletes, spanning 31 sports. This research shows that although there is not a significant difference in the length of male and female athlete’s profiles, there is a significant difference in the amount of personal information contained within the profiles of female and male athletes, with female athletes generally having more personal information in their profiles than males. Additionally, there are significant differences in the amount of hobbies listed within that personal information, with female athletes having significantly more hobbies listed within their profiles, especially hobbies considered “feminine.”
David Maume, PhD (Committee Chair)
Erynn Casanova, PhD (Committee Member)
63 p.
Sociology
sports; gender differences; mass media; media guide; Olympic Games; athletes

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Carter, J. A. (2011). Gender Differences in the Portrayal of Athletes in Olympic Media Guide Profiles [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1307457173

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Carter, Jennifer. Gender Differences in the Portrayal of Athletes in Olympic Media Guide Profiles. 2011. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1307457173.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Carter, Jennifer. "Gender Differences in the Portrayal of Athletes in Olympic Media Guide Profiles." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1307457173

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1307457173
1,060
© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.