As a little girl, everyone will say you can do anything you put your mind to, but when you grow up, you start to see there are always conditions. You see that there’s a gender barrier that will always be an obstacle. This barrier can be in sports, in school, but more so in your career. This is extremely prominent in sports media. Knowing this is the field I want to be in for the rest of my life is terrifying, not only for myself, but all young women wanting to do the same thing. Myself and several other women look forward to a lot of negative feedback and a very competitive future, but we also get to look forward to the women we become.
We look forward to the sexist comments written about women in the field. Rather than focusing on the information being presented to them, some men feel the necessity to comment on what the woman is wearing or how her legs look (because god knows they turned on Sports Center to look at the reporter’s legs). Rather than controlling their thoughts, some men feel the need to belittle women by posting things on social media about how they looked in that telecast today, rather than acknowledging her work. We look forward to being a piece of meat, not a well-educated woman.
We look forward to fearing maternity leave. A lot of women look forward to raising children, but in the media industry, it can be scary. While you’re gone, someone else is trying to take your job. Someone is trying to be the best they can be to get your spot. You’re told that showing up and making yourself noticed is the only way to succeed, but now you’re supposed to be a mom and be there for your kids. Balancing home life and going to work to prove your worth every day will become everything. We get to look forward to fearing if we are fulfilling both of those duties without receiving any feedback - sometimes, until it’s too late.
It’s terrifying knowing that nothing is a promise, nothing is guaranteed. Regardless of it all, I feel this only makes me want to work harder. I hope this is a mutual feeling for all women hoping to pursue a career in sports media. All odds are against us, and the only way to become a better person and future employee is to work our asses off. If it doesn’t go our way, then I think the only thing you can do is continue to work. It’s scary and unknown, but it’s also empowering knowing the only way to go into this field is to continue to better yourself. Having something to make you work is better than working without meaning. It’s horrible to know that in the future, we might be put down and looked at as objects. However, women can do absolutely anything; again, it’s all what you put your mind to.
