This document summarizes a student research project that examined Bethany College students' perceptions of male and female sportscasters on ESPN. A survey of 100 students found that female sportscasters were seen as more physically attractive but less authoritative, knowledgeable, and credible than their male counterparts. Both male and female students believed male sportscasters had more command and expertise. The results supported theories that television shapes societal norms and that women face disadvantages in male-dominated fields due to issues of power and communication.

1. Bethany College Students’
Perceptions of Male and Female
Sportscasters Seen on ESPN
Delonté Joyce
COMM 490
Senior Project
April 23, 2015

2. Abstract
 Viewers of ESPN may notice that very few women are
sportscasters and that the women who are on ESPN are
attractive. This paper seeks to determine whether Bethany
College students perceive male and female sportscasters
on ESPN as attractive, authoritative, knowledgeable, and
credible. The results of the survey showed that female
sportscasters are seen as more attractive than males but
not as authoritative, knowledgeable, or credible as males.
These results support past research.

3. Theory
 Cultivation Theory
 The Cultivation Theory is the theory that argues that
television plays an extremely important role in how people
view their world
 According to Gerbner’s Cultivation Theory, “He regards
television as the dominant force in shaping modern society
because it tells stories”
 The Cultivation Theory explains my research because when
viewers watch ESPN and see that there are always male
sportscasters broadcasting for all of the sports shows and
games, it becomes a norm and that’s what they will always
expect to see.

4. Theory Continued
 Muted Group Theory
 The Muted Group Theory is a theory that is concerning the
certain groups of people who remain powerless compared to
other groups
 According to Kramarae’s Muted Group Theory, “When
women try to overcome this inequality, the masculine control
of communication places them at a tremendous
disadvantage.”
 The Muted Group Theory explains my research because
when females are trying to become sportscasters, viewers
really don’t give them a chance because of the norm of
seeing male sportscasters all over ESPN. A female
sportscaster is going to be at a disadvantage know matter
the situation because of the way our society is shaped

5. Method
 13 statement survey and 1 demographic question
 Surveyed 100 Bethany College Students; 55 Male, 45 female
 Likert Scale (1-4)
 Excel (organize data)
 SPSS (Statistical Analysis Program)
 Multiple Analysis of Variance for questions put together
(Variables that seperated males and females)
 T-Test fot questions not put together (To see high significance)

6. Research Questions
 RQ1: How do Bethany College students perceive male and
female sportscasters in the dimensions of attractiveness,
authority, knowledge, and credibility?
 RQ2: Is the appearance of sportscasters detrimental to
their credibility?

7. Results
 From the results you can see that:
 Both females and males believe female sportscasters are
physically attractive.
 Many females believe male sportscasters are attractive.
 Both females and males believe that male sportscasters
command more authority than females and that females
command very little authority.
 Both females and males believe that male sportscasters
have much more knowledge than females.
 Both females and males see aging as a negative for female
sportscasters.

8. Results continued
 Both females and males believe that female sportscasters are
hired to ensure gender equality.
 Both females and males would rather see male sportscasters
covering male and female sports.
 Both females and males agree that female sportscasters are
hired to boost TV ratings.
 Females agree that males sportscasters are hired because
the audience is majority male.

9. Discussion
 What people see is what they believe.
 Few women on ESPN. Most doing sideline interviews.
 Women are not seen as credible, knowledgeable, or authoritative.
 They are seen as attractive, and as a way to boost TV ratings.

10. Outcome