Abstract
Those who follow sports in Australia would see an overrepresentation of male commentators reporting on a variety of sports, with very few female sports commentators visible. This is particularly prevalent in sports such as cricket, rugby league, Australian football, and rugby union. Traditionally, women who do present or write about sport often face criticism, sexual harassment, and abuse. This space for female sports journalists in professional (male) sports remains contested. The current study explores an example of this contested space in Australia. In January 2016, during a live television interview with sports journalist Mel McLaughlin during a Big Bash League (BBL) cricket match, West Indian cricketer Chris Gayle asked McLaughlin out on a date and then requested that she didn’t “blush.” This incident was reported on widely by the media in Australia with a variety of reactions from sports writers, athletes, and sports fans. Such reactions included high profile current and ex-sportsmen speaking out in support of Gayle, Gayle not required to provide an adequate apology to McLaughlin, and the strong reaction from his cricket club to fine Gayle for his behaviour. These themes will be analyzed in the current paper using a third-wave feminist lens to understand more broadly the place of women (and men) in sports and sports journalism in Australia.
Presenters
Chelsea LitchfieldSenior Lecturer and Associate Head of School, Charles Sturt University, Australia
Digital Media
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