Gender (in)equality in Sports Journalism – A Systematic Scoping Review

Abstract

Sports journalism reflects and reinforces broader societal gender norms, with newsrooms remaining male-dominated despite more women entering the profession of (sports) journalism. This systematic scoping review synthesizes two decades (2003-2023) of empirical research on gender (in)equality in sports journalism. Following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, 1148 records were found across four databases, and 29 empirical peer-reviewed journal articles that met predefined inclusion criteria were analyzed. Data were extracted with a structured coding scheme and synthesized through thematic analysis to map (1) the research field on gender (in)equality in sports journalism, (2) knowledge on gendered work conditions and their implications, and (3) experiences of discrimination, harassment and exclusion. The review shows a concentration of studies in North America and Europe as well as qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys. Findings reveal persistent gendered work conditions, including masculine norms, assignments of jobs/topics, and double standards, which limit women’s career advancement. Apart from that, many women experience discrimination, harassment and exclusion, both offline and online, often leading to coping strategies that normalize or downplay mistreatment. By systematically consolidating evidence, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the state of knowledge on gender (in)equality in sports journalism, underscoring the persistence of gendered structures.