Framing the 2012 Olympics: A Content Analysis of International Newspaper Coverage of Female Athletes
Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Communication, Professional
Date of Award
5-2013
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
John King
Committee Members
Carrie Oliveira, Gary Lhotsky
Abstract
The present content analysis was designed to identify the representation of female athletes in the media during the 2012 London Olympics. Coders analyzed 617 mentions of male and female athletes in order to determine the quantity and quality of coverage during the 2012 Olympics. The research mostly supported previous literature concerning the depiction of female athletes in the media, as the study revealed an imbalance in the quantity and quality of coverage of male and female athletes in newspapers. The frequency of mentions of female athletes was lower than the frequency of mentions of male athletes. Furthermore, female athletes were found to be more frequently associated with sexism than male athletes. The exploratory research revealed significant differences in the depiction of female athletes in Western and Eastern countries because female athletes tend to be portrayed in more subordinate roles in Eastern newspapers.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Giuggioli, Jessica, "Framing the 2012 Olympics: A Content Analysis of International Newspaper Coverage of Female Athletes" (2013). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1108. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1108
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, International and Intercultural Communication Commons, Mass Communication Commons, Public Relations and Advertising Commons