The impact of the media on gender inequality within sport

Despite the prolific advancement of women sports and female athletes and the potential for strong women to be positive role models, the portrayal of these athletes in the media has been subjected to objectification and invisibility compared to male athletes or men's sports. Though there has been tremendous growth and popularity of women sports, female athletes are still considered inferior to male athletes and that compared to male athletes there is still an obsession with the body of female athletes rather than on her athletic skills. This inequality within sport will continue to exist until the media re-examines it portrayal of female athletes. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.