Journalistic gaps in the coverage of men’s and women’s soccer matches: UNAM Pumas teams.
A summary of the research:
The article "Brechas Periodísticas en la Cobertura de Partidos de los Equipos Masculino y Femenino de los Pumas de la UNAM (2017-2022)" examines the disparity in media coverage between the male and female soccer teams of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). It analyzes data from three major Mexican newspapers—Reforma, La Jornada, and Gaceta UNAM—across multiple years to identify quantitative and qualitative differences in how men’s and women’s games are reported. The findings highlight significant gaps in coverage, with men’s matches receiving more consistent and detailed attention compared to women’s matches, which were often overlooked or presented in a less comprehensive manner. The study reflects on how these disparities contribute to the broader challenges facing professional women’s soccer in Mexico, where media visibility is essential for the sport's growth and recognition.
Additionally, the research discusses how narrative framing varies by gender, with men’s games often depicted with heightened emotional language, while women’s games are described in a more straightforward, sometimes minimized, manner. The authors suggest that closing these coverage gaps is crucial for achieving equitable representation in sports media. They propose strategies such as adopting equal coverage standards across gender lines and exploring ways to increase public engagement with women’s soccer.
Key Takeaways
Men's soccer games consistently receive more extensive and detailed coverage than women's games, reflecting a quantitative media gap.
Differences in narrative tone, with men’s games portrayed more dramatically, contribute to the gender-based disparity in how sports are represented.
Enhancing media coverage of women’s soccer could support its professional growth and help challenge prevailing gender biases in sports journalism.
Authors: Daniel Añorve Añorve, Jorge Meneses Cárdenas, & Irma Baltazar Eliserio
You can read the whole article here.
