Online Harassment of Women in Sports Media: Is the Glass Ceiling Merely Cracked?

Abstract

This empirical content analysis investigates the challenges encountered by women in the sports media industry as they strive to overcome the barriers to advancement known as the glass ceiling. As social media has become an essential aspect of the journalistic career path, online harassment has followed suit. Notably, female sports personalities have been attacked within online internet spaces. Social media content about these women is overwhelmingly focused on their physical appearance and their capability and knowledge of reporting within sports. This research builds on existing knowledge by investigating the online harassment faced by women. This study is analyzed through a postfeministic lens, where manifestations of hegemonic masculinity are evident. Additionally, second-level agenda-setting is examined to observe how sports personalities are portrayed within sports media. It reveals explicit comments directed at sports figures and analyzes how these comments differ between male and female professionals in the industry, highlighting that women are at the forefront of this ongoing issue. Given the persistent adverse environment, it appears that the glass ceiling for women remains merely cracked.