Semester of Graduation
May 2021
Degree
Master of Mass Communication (MMC)
Department
Manship School of Mass Communication
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
Women’s Gymnastics is one of the most popular events at the Summer Olympic Games and media coverage of the team provides a unique perspective on women’s athletics, as gymnastics is traditionally considered a feminine sport. Utilizing a discourse analysis, this thesis examines the newspaper coverage received by the team in the last 25 years. This thesis explores the narratives regarding gender within the coverage and additionally explores how abuse narratives were discussed in news media throughout theses years. This research shows that how female gymnasts are discussed is growing in type of coverage received, meaning that how female gymnastics is discussed has transitioned from narratives of “small girls” to “athletes” and “women” while also presenting evidence of how sexual assault and abuse coverage, especially regarding victims, still has room for growth.
Recommended Citation
Friedman, Kimberly, "BALANCING ACT: WHEN GENDER AND MEDIA COLLIDE IN SPORTS" (2021). LSU Master's Theses. 5261.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/5261
Committee Chair
Grimm, Joshua
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_theses.5261
Included in
Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Mass Communication Commons, Women's Studies Commons