Yeah, About That List Of Women In Sports Media
While recognizing women is a good thing, doing so with blinders on defeats the purpose. In fact, let’s burn all the lists, shall we?
I like lists sometimes. I find them helpful when I am looking for places to brunch or for new authors to read. They are useful if I need succinct information and someone has already done the leg work in sorting through reviews or other pertinent facts.
I also happen to be a Woman of Color (“WoC”) and a sportswriter. I enjoy being made aware of the incredible work of brilliant women in this industry. The amazing Jessica W. Luther complies a list of terrific work by women at the end of every year. I look forward to it. And I learn about this industry from it; an industry that is 90 percent comprised by white males, who often traffic in misinformed tropes about race and sexual assault in sports; an industry that can be wondrous and exciting to work in, and one that can also be exhausting and terribly unkind to women.
Women typically like to give each other props, especially in a field where there are not very many of us. I appreciate when people I respect share or recognize my work — it is validating and makes me feel less alone in the dudebro abyss.
But that doesn’t mean that I enjoy “Lists” as a form of recognition.
When I think of lists, I think of vacuous and irrelevant takes, like “The 40 Hottest Sports Reporters” or “The Sexiest Athletes of 2015”. These itemizations of the supposedly gorgeous prioritize beauty over talent, and they are drenched in misogyny instead of the recognition of accomplishment and professional skill.
BUT, you may ask, WHAT ABOUT LISTS THAT ARE RESPECTFUL?! What about drawing attention to really great women who are totally kick-ass? Don’t I care about getting attention for great women in sports media? WHY AM I NOT A TEAM PLAYER?
First of all, there are far too many men making these lists. See, if you are a white male and you compile a list, there is practically zero chance that your list will be inclusive.
SO, HOW ABOUT NOT MAKING A LIST? — mostly because said list will almost certainly not showcase the people it ought to. It can’t possibly. It won’t be representative of the dozens of WoC sportswriters — many of whom are freelance — who offer incredible vision and nuance on issues that are not sufficiently addressed by the normal sportswriting crowd; the content creators who actually need and deserve support and attention.
Brandon Anderson recently published such a list here at The Cauldron. Now, while I love The Cauldron — I have been published here, and one of the regulars contributors, the indomitable Julie DiCaro, is a good friend of mine and a phenomenal writer — Brandon’s list of “20 outstanding women” hails only six or so not white women. Sigh.
Ultimately, race remains our most uncomfortable issue to discuss because it requires men and women to check their privilege, to listen instead of pontificate, and to hand the mic over to those without a regular platform.
It is easier for the white male majority to look to white women and ask about their challenges with sexism and misogyny — many of which are harrowing and raw — but what about those whose struggles go beyond gender, to race and class? I can’t divorce my identity as a brown Muslim from my womanhood.
Don’t get me wrong, Rachel Nichols, Sarah Spain and Katie Nolan are phenomenal. They are a collective force that has bulldozed through so much bullshit, that it is already legendary despite its relative infancy. They (and many other prominent names) have inspired countless young women by proving that women in sports media will be recognized and accepted (for the most part) in mainstream media.
They are also all white.
When The Trifecta, ESPN radio’s hottest new show, came out, I was thrilled, but when I saw that the hosts of the show were all white, I was a little disappointed. Yes, the show is really well done, but I am one of those people who consume a lot sports content. I read a lot. And one of my concerns is that given this industry so dominated by white males, white females are going to be majority beneficiaries of the recent enlightenment.
Simply put, representation matters.
In a roundtable discussion on race and sports media for Sports Illustrated in 2014, Jemele Hill — one of my favorite sports media sheroes — said:
“Even with the rise of new media, which I believe has opened the door for non-traditional sports media reporters, sports media remains white-male run and white-male focused.”
I hope it doesn’t stay white-focused.
Surely, the issue can’t be that there are not enough talented or experienced WoC; I don’t buy those arguments at all. Short of that, let’s have conversations with editors about this. Let’s get internship programs rolling. Let’s ask staff writers to find new, diverse experts (there are so many) to contribute. Let’s shine a light on those brilliant women who seldom make the “lists.”
And let’s pay them. Let’s not ask them to work for “exposure.” We can’t pay our VISA bills with exposure.
Who are these women, you ask? Good question. It just so happens that I have conveniently complied a “list” (GASP!) of names — some famous, some rookies — in a Google Doc to help amplify their work and as my own resource. These ladies write about everything from water polo to tennis, from kabaddi to soccer, and have vast knowledge of the NBA, MLB, EPL —and pretty much everything else. To my knowledge, no one had actually attempted to do this before I did- other than Writers of Colour in the United Kingdom, who tracks both genders. In an industry where WoC are the least represented, it is unfortunate (read: frustrating) that no one would try to seek them out. I have shared this precious document with grateful editors, academics, fellow sportswriters and authors.
From the above-mentioned roundtable discussion, Gregory Lee Jr. stated:
“The problem in the industry is we don’t have enough voices in the newsroom to shed light on the disparities there. There are not many people of color or women in editing positions who can influence decision-making.”
While I definitely agree, those are not two mutually exclusive groups. There are people who fall into both categories, even though it isn’t often looked at that way. Truthfully, white women simply cannot discuss race the same way that WoC are able to.
WoC sportswriters allow me to look through the lens through which they frame issues around gender-based violence, racism, transphobia, homophobia and other social ills that regularly collide with sports. They provide analysis that is as refreshing as it is interesting. And while some J school graduates, many are not.
So please, pretty please, can we just let the lists die? Unless we compile a list of the Top 2000 female sportswriters, researchers and journalists — that is a list I can get behind. Let’s have a massive binder! Or a dossier! (Or just use my Google Doc.)
I am neither hopeful, nor interested in making a list of “The Hottest Sports Writers,” but being a recognized face where I can help amplify the voices of other women would be amazing. Major sports media outlets using this information and applying it would be great, too. To use a large platform, as many women have done for me, to help give more WoC paid opportunities is what the end goal should be.
Because as it stands, lists are not doing much of that.
Note: If you identify as a WoC and are a sportswriter or journalist, please contact me and I will happily add you to the Google Doc!
