Interrogating inequalities in Sports Media: Examining gender/race representation in

Throughout the year of 2013, sports illustrated came out with 102 issues of their magazines, which also means 102 cover photos for these magazines. Out of these 102 covers, only three of them had a woman on the cover. The first one was November 11, 2013 and it was a female police officer from Boston with three other males. The second cover with a female was on October 7, 2013 with swim suit model Kate Upton. In the photo she is dressed up as a braves baseball player and is sitting with two other braves players. The third and last cover with a female took place on February 12, 2013. This was also with Kate Upton and she is in bikini bottoms with no bikini top while wearing a winter coat that is open. 

In 2013 there was not one female athlete on the cover of sports illustrated. One cover was dedicated to Boston Police but the other two had the same swim suit model on the cover and the only job she had was to look attractive. Clearly there is a challenge existing on gender in sports media and unfortunately sports illustrated is doing nothing to fix this problem. Instead, they are even objectifying women to look attractive for men. 

In my personal opinion, women should play more of a serious role in athletic magazines. They should not be viewed only as objects but rather athletes just like men are. I would say the only serious picture taken of a female in 2013 was the police officer picture but she was surrounded by three other men. Sports Illustrated needs to change the way they present women on the cover of their magazines. Hopefully this changes more in 2014.