Sports have always been more than just a game, they reflect society as a whole. They hold the power to shape society, challenge norms, and break down barriers. By examining various examples and case studies, we will highlight the influence that harmful stereotypes have on athletes and fans. Studies have shown that commentators frequently rely on racial tropes, attributing success differently based on race. They were shown praising white athletes more for intelligence and leadership while emphasizing the physical abilities of Black athletes being "God given". These harmful stereotypes can hurt athletes by reinforcing inaccurate beliefs about racial differences. This diminishes the accomplishments of athletes of color and contributes to prejudice and unequal treatment by insinuating that white athletes "work harder". (Rada & Wulfemeyer, 2005; Eastman & Billings, 2001). https://doi.org/10.1080/106461701753287714
Disparities are also seen in how athlete identities are framed in the media, with differences based on gender, ethnicity and nationality. Meaning that there was an unequal amount of time spent on commentating men vs. women and white athletes vs. Black athletes. In this study, there is evidence showing that commentators take more time talking about white men than any other athletes. (Billings & Eastman, 2003).https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2003.tb02911.x
The video below gives even more insight into the gender inequalities that women face every day in sports.
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