Sexism, stereotypes, sports. A woman reporting the news? She’s a go-getter. A woman reporting the sports? She’s incapable. Can she do it? Many men think not. Here are a few examples of women who overcome the divide between women and sports.
Erin Andrews:
Andrews at a 2007 football game
In 2000, Andrews became a freelance reporter with FSN Florida. In 2001, she moved to the Sunshine Network, where she served as a Tampa Bay Lightning reporter. In 2002, she was a studio host and part-time reporter, covering the Atlanta Braves and college football for TBS. In 2004, she became a reporter for ESPN’s NHL coverage. She also served as a sideline reporter for their college football, Saturday Primetime, and Big Ten basketball coverage. In 2005, she additionally started sideline reporting for the MLB, as well as reporting on Great Outdoor Games, men’s college basketball, and the College World Series.
Wendi Nix:
Wendi Nix speaking with UGA Coach Mark Richt
Nix is a reporter and anchor for ESPN. She primarily handles coverage for NFL, and College Football games featuring teams from the New England area. Prior to working for ESPN, Nix was a weekend sports anchor at WHDH in Boston (2003–2006) and had previously reported for Fox Sports Net, NESN, and WPDE in South Carolina. Nix remains an occasional guest analyst on the weekend show, Sports Xtra, on WHDH.
Erin Andrews and Wendi Nix are not the only two women to overcome the stereotypical and sexist barriers. They are among the ranks of other famous female sports writers and reporters: Kelly Naqi, Linda Cohn, Jenn Brown, Suzy Kolber, Michelle Tafoya, Hannah Storm, and Chris Mckendry, to name a few.
So the next time sexism, stereotypes, and sports arise, remember these ladies that have paved the way for the rest of us.
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