According to a recent sports article published by “The Hawks Newspaper” written by author
Frain (2021). In the article Frain interviews female Director of Athletics Jill Bodensteiner whom
became a very directive and important figure in the Female division 1 Athletic directors. The
author Frain asks Jill questions regarding the facts of the business and how the industry has
treated her over the years knowing that its mainly dominated by males. Jill explains that there is
a huge gap difference between the means and resources females are presented with and the ones
male directors are given. The author explains how the statistics back up what Jill said and that
the rate of change has only decreased within the timeframe of the last four years. Frain proceeds
to ask Jill what her empowerment advice would be to all the females trying to take on the same
career path whether in administration or sports to where Jill replies that the only way is to speak
on it and address it since administrative ranks are discriminated upon by higher ranking male
members. Frain then continues to ask Jill what possible barriers she has faced during her
experienced span and what are the coaching and administrative difficulties faced. The interview
was finalized by the last question where Frain asks how Notre Dame university, the
establishment that Jill works for advocate and support female and woman athletics more. To
where Jill replies more exposure for the females.
This article presents a lot of issues that females across the sports world face. However, no biases
were subconsciously implemented but quite the opposite. Where Frain addresses those issues in a
very neutral manner where his approach is seen as curios, peaceful and informative. Frain tries to
incorporate that the old views and barriers that have been facing women still exist to this day.
When it comes to women in sports departments, women are looked at by their male workmates
more as of a quota hire and no actual skill (Hardin et al. 2005). This implies a gender stereotype
where women are seen less competent. This reflects discrimination in hiring patterns where a
study done by (Steinpreis et al., 1999) mailed Psychology professors two potential job candidates
with the same exact qualifications but with two different names one is Brian and the other is
Karen which refers to a female. The results are worrisome as the professors answered 75 %
would hire the male Brian and 45% would hire Karen. Both the female and male professors
showed this bias knowing that they are all aware of these gender biases and stereotypes. In the
news article Jill explains that there is discrimination in her administrative career path which is
addressed as access discrimination where a woman with high qualifying skills is rejected or
offered a much less pleasing job (Matlin 2012). (Steinberg et al., 2008) listen common thoughts
male employers form on female employees where employers can hold a negative view on the
woman’s ability and motivation towards the work, and another stereotype is that employers
expect that the job positions require a masculine energy to some extent; and finally, is that
employers can pay attention to inappropriate characteristics when females are being interviewed.
When it comes to watching female sports the view record is much smaller than that of a male
played sport. Frain argues in the article that the wage gap in the sports world between men and
women is exceedingly high and is 15 times less than that of male athletes’ salary. However, Jill
argues that that should be done without taking into consideration the level of physicality these
athletes have. That argument received a lot of backlash in general from multiple prominent
figures that claimed male sports is much more demanding and much more interesting to the
viewer who make up 67% males and the rest a mix between females and other entities.
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O'Reilly, J. (Ed.). (2012). Women and sports in the United States: A documentary reader. Upne.
Hardin, M., & Shain, S. (2005). Strength in numbers? The experiences and attitudes of women in
sports media careers. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 82(4), 804-819.
Matlin, M. W. (2012). The Psychology of Women. Belmont: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.