From box office hits like Inside Out 2 to the 2024 Olympics, compelling media portrayals of women are driving significant progress towards gender equality. This month, Inside Out 2 premiered in theaters, featuring a strong female protagonist with a passion for hockey. Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is gearing up for the 2024 Olympics by launching various initiatives and garnering media attention to promote women in sports. These representations in pop culture create a ripple effect, inspiring the next generation of women to actively engage in the sports community and pursue their passions with confidence.
Rise In Media Coverage
The increase in media coverage is a positive sign for women in sports. As digital and social media continues to flourish, female athletes are gaining more exposure and fame. This encourages more young girls to participate in sports and achieve their athletic goals. The average percentage of sports media coverage across broadcasts, streaming, social media, and digital publications increased to 15% in 2022. This is a big jump from earlier numbers, which showed coverage averages of only 5.7% for ESPN’s SportsCenter and 5.1% for TV news in 2019. One example of this surge is the “Caitlin Clark effect” on college basketball TV ratings, with the women’s NCAA Tournament and Final Four setting all-time records.
Inside Out‘s Effect on Women’s Hockey
Disney Pixar’s Inside Out 2 brings a fresh media representation to women’s sports by highlighting Riley, a young female hockey player, and her emotional journey through adolescence. The film follows Riley and her friends as they attempt to qualify for their school’s hockey team, the Firehawks. This storyline not only showcases Riley’s internal struggles but also shines a spotlight on women’s hockey, promoting visibility and growth in the sport.
This representation encourages young girls to pursue interests in hockey and other traditionally male-dominated sports. Inside Out 2 has the potential to catalyze the growth of women’s hockey, much like The Mighty Ducks transformed the landscape of youth hockey in the United States. Following the release of the first Mighty Ducks film, USA Hockey reported a remarkable 20% rise in youth hockey registrations, illustrating the movies’ profound influence on popularizing hockey among a new generation.
As for the film’s box office performance, Inside Out 2 has already grossed almost $300M worldwide. Haley Skarupa, U.S. Olympic gold medal hockey player, expressed her excitement over the film’s success: “I’m really excited to see how it evolves over the next 5-10 years, to see some girls who, you’re going to ask them, ‘How did you start playing hockey?’” Skarupa’s enthusiasm reflects the potential impact Inside Out 2 could have on a new generation of women in sports.
PWHL’s Bold Steps Towards Gender Equality
The rise in interest in women’s hockey coincides with the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) record-breaking season, marking a breakthrough event in women’s sports. The PWHL kicked off its season with a bang, drawing an impressive 2.9M viewers in Canada alone. This made it the highest-viewed sports program of the day on major networks like TNT, CBC, and Sportsnet. The excitement extended to streaming platforms as well, with the first several games racking up over 130K views on YouTube.
The league’s reach is expanding thanks to new broadcasting deals with Sportsnet and CBC/Radio-Canada, along with regional partnerships in the United States with Bally Sports North and MSG Networks. This widespread coverage is helping the PWHL capture the hearts and screens of sports fans everywhere, further solidifying its place in the sports world and promoting gender equality in athletics.
IOC Drives Change for Women in Sports
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is championing gender equality in sports through innovative measures like mixed-gender events and balanced representation in leadership roles. One notable initiative was introduced at Tokyo 2020, where a new rule allowed one male and one female athlete to jointly carry their nation’s flag during the Opening Ceremony. Additionally, the IOC will include 18 mixed-gender events in the Olympic program to further promote gender balance, showcasing events where male and female athletes compete together and against each other.
Looking ahead, the 2024 Paris Olympic Games are set to be the most gender-balanced in history. The IOC’s commitment to equality is evident, with 50% female representation on its commissions achieved in 2023 and an increase in female IOC membership to 41%. This progress signals a promising future for women’s sports, indicating a significant rise in their prominence and recognition on the global stage.
Future Trajectory
The future of women in sports is promising, with professional leagues, international organizations, and media representation all working together to promote gender equality. The effects are showing in real time: just last week at the 2024 ESPYs hosted by tennis legend Serena Williams, we saw women’s sports win big and receive long-awaited media recognition. South Carolina’s women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley earned a Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, Caitlin Clark won Best College Athlete, and Simone Biles took home Best Comeback Athlete. As women in sports continue to gain momentum, we can anticipate a future where female athletes consistently receive the recognition, support, and opportunities they deserve, paving the way for new generations of talent and inspiring even greater achievements in the years to come.
Sources:
- https://frontofficesports.com/inside-out-2-pwhl-womens-hockey-growth/
- https://olympics.com/ioc/gender-equality/gender-equality-through-time
- https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/38282089/new-professional-women-hockey-leareveals-six-franchises
- https://ca.news.yahoo.com/inside-out-2-canadian-artists-on-hockey-scenes-teenage-anxiety-and-getting-emotional-crafting-the-film-035031093.html
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/lindseyedarvin/2023/10/31/media-coverage-for-womens-sports-has-nearly-tripled-in-five-years-according-to-new-research/
- https://sportsnaut.com/wnba-tv-ratings/
- https://justwomenssports.com/reads/womens-sports-win-espys-at-2024-espy-awards/