On the Sidelines: Gendered Neoliberalism and the American Female Sportscaster

Despite the presence of more women in sports broadcasting, they face gendered and racialized mistreatment in the workplace and online, and are largely confined to anchor and sideline reporter positions. In his book "On the Sidelines," Guy Harrison argues that gendered neoliberalism maintains this status quo, placing the onus on women for their own success despite systemic sexism and racism. He examines how these challenges have been reshaped and maintained to construct a narrow portrait of the ideal neoliberal female sportscaster, sustaining womens marginalization in the industry.

Format: Hardback
Length: 186 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2021
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

The National Communication Association's 2022 Outstanding Book Award in the Communication and Sport Division is a testament to the growing presence of women in sports broadcasting. However, despite this progress, women sportscasters continue to face gender-based and racialized discrimination in the workplace and online, often limiting their roles to anchor and sideline reporter positions in coverage of high-profile men's sports. In his book "On the Sidelines," Guy Harrison delves into the issue of gendered neoliberalism, a cluster of exclusionary twenty-first-century feminisms that perpetuates this status quo. Through in-depth interviews with women sportscasters, focus groups with sports fans, and a comprehensive analysis of media products, Harrison argues that gendered neoliberalism places the responsibility for women's success in sports broadcasting on their shoulders, despite systemic sexism and racism.

The book weaves a cohesive narrative that demonstrates how sportscasting's dependence on gendered neoliberalism creates a narrow portrait of the ideal neoliberal female sportscaster. This portrayal reinforces double standards, biases in hiring and development for certain on-air positions, harassment, and emotional labor for women in the industry. Harrison's examination of these challenges through the lens of gendered neoliberalism sheds light on how they have been reshaped and maintained to perpetuate women's marginalization in sports broadcasting.

The book highlights the need for systemic change to address these issues and promote greater diversity and inclusivity in sports broadcasting. It calls for increased representation of women in leadership positions, better training and support for sportscasters, and stronger policies against harassment and discrimination. By challenging the status quo.quo, "On the Sidelines" contributes to a broader conversation about gender equality in sports and media and advocates for a more inclusive and equitable future for women in sports broadcasting.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496220271