The seminar paper begins with a review of existing literature on gender representation in general and in sports specifically, outlining key theoretical frameworks and previous findings to form the research question. It then describes the methodological approach, which involves a comparative analysis of selected media coverage from the most recent men’s and women’s World Cups, focusing on differences in language and thematic framing. The findings highlight recurring patterns in how male and female players are described and positioned in journalistic narratives. These are then discussed through the lens of gender theory, considering the broader social implications of such representations. Finally, the paper reflects on its limitations and concludes with a summary and suggestions for future research.
Konstruktion von Gender: Die Reproduktion von Stereotypen im Profifußball Warum unterscheidet sich die mediale Darstellung von Fußballern und Fußballerinnen so drastisch?
Diese wissenschaftliche Analyse untersucht anhand der Männer-WM 2022 und der Frauen-WM 2023, wie der deutsche Sportjournalismus (am Beispiel von Sport Bild) Geschlechterstereotype reproduziert.
Die Studie deckt durch einen qualitativen Vergleich zentrale narrative Muster auf:
Drama vs. Sachlichkeit: Während Männer in emotional geladene Heldenberichte eingebettet werden, dominiert bei Frauen eine distanzierte, „erzwungene Objektivität“.
Heroisierung vs. Delegitimierung: Männliche Athleten werden durch Kraft und Dominanz als Helden inszeniert, während die Berichterstattung über Frauen oft durch private Details oder die Reduktion auf traditionelle Rollen von ihrer sportlichen Leistung ablenkt.
Sprachliche Macht: Die Analyse zeigt, wie Begriffe wie „unsere Mädels“ oder die Verherrlichung von Aggression als männliches Erfolgsmerkmal bestehende Hierarchien zementieren. Ein aufschlussreiches Werk für alle, die die subtilen Mechanismen der Medien und deren Einfluss auf unser Bild von Männlichkeit und Weiblichkeit im Sport verstehen wollen.
Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- I. List of Figures
- II. List of Tables
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Literature Review
- 2.1 Defining Gender Stereotypes
- 2.2 Formation and Reproduction of Gender Stereotypes
- 2.3 Implications of Gender Stereotypes
- 2.4 Research Gap and Research Question
- 3. Methods Section
- 3.1 Research Setting
- 3.2. Data Collection
- 3.3 Data Analysis
- 3.4 Methodological Validity
- 4. Findings
- 4.1 Objectivity vs. Drama
- 4.1.1 Forced Objectivity
- 4.1.2 Dramatized Narratives
- 4.2 Delegitimization vs. Heroism
- 4.2.1 Delegitimization
- 4.2.2 Heroism
- 4.3 Appropriation vs. Aggression
- 4.3.1 Discursive Appropriation
- 4.3.2 Aggression
- 4.1 Objectivity vs. Drama
- 5. Discussion
- 5.1 Reproduction of Traditional Gender Roles
- 5.2 Media as a Norm-Setting Force
- 6. Limitations
- 7. Conclusion
- VI. References
- V. Appendices
- Appendix I: Articles used for analysis for the men's football world cup
- Appendix II: Articles used for analysis for the women's football world cup
- Appendix III: Coding Table (Ridgeway & Smith-Lovin, 1999)
Objective & Thematic Focuses
This seminar paper investigates how gender stereotypes are constructed and reproduced in professional sports, specifically focusing on German media coverage of men's and women's football. The primary research question guiding this study is: How are gender stereotypes reproduced in professional sports?
- Exploring the definition, formation, and reproduction of gender stereotypes in mass media.
- Conducting a comparative analysis of media discourse surrounding the men's and women's FIFA World Cups.
- Identifying recurring linguistic patterns and thematic framings that reinforce gendered expectations in sports journalism.
- Examining the social implications of media representations in shaping public perceptions of gendered behavior.
- Analyzing the role of media as a norm-setting institution in perpetuating ideals of masculinity and femininity.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 Objectivity vs. Drama
The first aggregated dimension is “objectivity versus drama”. This dimension is based on the second-order themes “forced objectivity" from the women's articles and “intensifying meaning through dramatized football narratives” from the men's articles. The media is placing women, through their very objective reporting, in a neutral and passive role, creating a very detached relationship with the readers. Men, on the other hand, are framed by a dramatized rhetoric, creating an emotional bond to the reader, creating an entertaining reading experience and framing men as strong and natural leaders.
4.1.1 Forced Objectivity
Forced objectivity was a commonly found theme within the news articles reporting about the women's football games. The articles would take the reader step by step through a game but never giving a subjective opinion, as some would assume in a privately held news magazine like SportBild:
"After their 6-0 gala performance against Morocco in their opening match, our DFB women lost 1-2 to Colombia in extra time in their second group match.”
(SportBild, 30.07.2023)
Because the reporting is presented in an entirely objective manner and refrains from attributing any emotions to the women, it creates very passive and seemingly disinterested role for the players. Additionally, it portrays the games in the same way: Not entertaining, very passive and not competitive, reinforcing the stereotype of women playing a “lesser” version of football than their male counterparts.
4.1.2 Dramatized Narratives
In contrast to the forced objectivity, news articles concerning male athletes are characterized by the frequent use of emotional language and dramatized narratives. The reader is taken onto an emotional journey, and an impression of deep involvement is created:
“The bitter realization: it's not just the sloppy handling of scoring chances that is caus- ing concern, but also the defense! The defensive unit appears shaky and porous in many situations, and there are repeated careless losses of possession, such as before Maeda's offside goal (8th minute). German soccer fans are anxious and fearful ahead of Sunday's game against Spain (8 p.m.)!”
(SportBild, 23.11.2022)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter contextualizes the study by highlighting the growing popularity of women's football and persistent gender inequalities in professional sports, introducing the research question on how gender stereotypes are reproduced in media coverage.
2. Literature Review: This section provides the theoretical foundation by defining gender stereotypes, discussing their formation and reproduction in mass media, and outlining their implications in sports, which directly leads to the formulation of the research question.
3. Methods Section: This chapter details the inductive qualitative research design, rooted in grounded theory and an embedded multiple-case study approach, used to analyze language and content in German sports journalism from the men's and women's FIFA World Cups.
4. Findings: This section presents the empirical results, revealing three main dimensions through which gender stereotypes are reproduced in media coverage: Objectivity vs. Drama, Delegitimization vs. Heroism, and Appropriation vs. Aggression, highlighting distinct portrayals for male and female athletes.
5. Discussion: This chapter interprets the findings within existing gender stereotype theory, emphasizing that media representation acts as a norm-setting force that actively shapes and reinforces traditional gender roles, thereby perpetuating hegemonic masculinity and femininity ideals in professional sports.
6. Limitations: This section acknowledges the constraints of the study, including limited generalizability due to its focus on one country and media outlet, the potential for interpretive subjectivity, and the exclusive focus on textual content without visual analysis.
7. Conclusion: This final chapter summarizes how sports journalism reproduces gender hierarchies through rhetorical divergences, granting legitimacy to men while constraining women, and notes that the rising visibility of women's football presents an opportunity for media to challenge these inequalities.
Keywords
Gender stereotypes, sports journalism, media representation, football, masculinity, femininity, media discourse, qualitative research, grounded theory, comparative analysis, norm-setting, delegitimization, heroism, discursive appropriation, aggression
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this paper generally about?
This paper generally investigates how gender stereotypes are constructed and reproduced in professional football through the lens of German sports journalism, analyzing media coverage of men's and women's World Cups.
What are the central thematic areas?
The central thematic areas include the definition and reproduction of gender stereotypes in media, a comparative analysis of men's versus women's football coverage, the linguistic framing and thematic patterns in sports journalism, and the media's role in shaping public perceptions of gendered behavior and reinforcing normative ideals.
What is the primary objective or research question?
The primary objective is to explore how gender stereotypes are reproduced in media coverage of professional sports. The guiding research question is: "How are gender stereotypes reproduced in professional sports?"
Which scientific method is used?
The study employs an inductive qualitative research design, rooted in the principles of Grounded Theory, combined with an embedded multiple-case study design for comparative analysis.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body covers the empirical findings, identifying three aggregated dimensions (Objectivity vs. Drama, Delegitimization vs. Heroism, and Discursive Appropriation vs. Aggression) of how gender stereotypes are reproduced, followed by a discussion interpreting these findings through the lens of gender stereotype theory and media as a norm-setting force.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Gender stereotypes, sports journalism, media representation, football, masculinity, femininity, media discourse, qualitative research, grounded theory, comparative analysis, norm-setting, delegitimization, heroism, discursive appropriation, aggression.
How does media coverage of women's football differ from men's football according to the findings?
Media coverage of women's football is characterized by "forced objectivity," often focusing on personal or relational details and using possessive diminutives ("our women" or "girls"), while men's football coverage employs "dramatized narratives" framing male athletes as heroic figures, emphasizing strength, leadership, and aggression.
What are the three main aggregated dimensions identified in the findings?
The three main aggregated dimensions are "Objectivity vs. Drama," "Delegitimization vs. Heroism," and "Discursive Appropriation vs. Aggression," which illustrate contrasting narrative strategies for men and women in sports journalism.
What role does Sport Bild play in this study?
Sport Bild is the primary data source for the study; its online newspaper coverage of the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was analyzed to examine gendered representations in German sports journalism.
What is "hegemonic masculinity" in the context of this paper?
In this paper, "hegemonic masculinity" refers to a culturally idealized form of manhood, which is reinforced by sports media portraying male athletes as dominant, strong, and independent, thereby legitimizing male superiority and setting a normative benchmark for masculinity.
- Citar trabajo
- Tamilla Javadi (Autor), 2025, Constructing Gender. The Reproduction of Stereotypes in Football, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1692647
