Interrogating Inequalities in Sports Media: Examining Gender Representation in Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated published the total of 102 magazines in 2013. Out of all 102 covers, only 3 of them featured women and only 1 of the 3 was a woman unaccompanied by men. Kate Upton, an American model/ actress was featured on two of these covers being completely exploited and objectified. Media in today’s culture is portrayed through the male eye. Women's role in most media is to portray a "sex symbol" role, or really not to play any role in media at all. The male vs. female athletes on the Sports Illustrated in 2013 is undoubtedly 102 to 0. There was not one female athlete featured on a single cover of Sports Illustrated in 2013. I am not a feminist, and I definitely do not believe that women can do everything men can do. On the other hand, I don't believe that men can do everything women can do. Mass media's role is to reach its audience and to satisfy. Men are easily the dominant audience of sports illustrated. Therefore, the magazine must reach men by revealing what they wanted to read and see. Most men reading Sports illustrated do not want to see a naked man on the cover. Although I do believe it is wrong that women are being exploited and objectified, it is the women like Kate Upton whom are ok with doing so. So personally, I don't see the problem.

As far as the women athletes go, they are not being featured on the covers of sports illustrated because they simply don’t attract as much publicity and audience. Sports illustrated is not purposely excluding female athletes, they are solely trying to keep their audience interested and their business in tact by seemingly and continuously providing its readers with top stories. Gender equality in sport will always remain an issue. Different ideologies affect media worldwide.