Not Just a Man's World

the evolving representation of women in the sports world

When I was six years old, I went to my first baseball game and in the fifth or sixth inning, I turned to my dad and said, “Daddy, I want to write about this when I grow up.” As a good but not great athlete, I found my outlet in writing about the achievements of women in sports. As I’ve grown up, however, I’ve realized the major differences in how female athletes are portrayed compared to male athletes. When googling my favorite female athletes, the first images that come up aren't from Sports Illustrated or ESPN the Magazine, but often the swimsuit issue of SI or various men's magazines. Is this how America sees talented female athletes like multiple Olympic medal winners Brandi Chastain and Amanda Beard? And how about for someone like me, involved in a sport that gets the minimum amount of coverage, crew, and that's only usually during an Olympic year. I come from a family with a rich history in covering sports, which I'm definitely proud of.