Local women reflect on challenges of being in sports media

Women at Pittsburg State University they often face different challenges than their male colleagues.

By Abbie Nielson

Key takeaways:

• Women often feel like they have to compete with their male colleges.
• Women are often judged by their looks and not their knowledge and skills.

Women at Pittsburg State University say they face unique challenges, as compared to their male counterparts, every day as females in the sports media industry.

According to ESPN, in 2021 only 14.4% of sports reporters are women. That’s actually an increase from 2018 when only 11.5% were women.

Former PSU Sports Producer Kat Bailey says women have to constantly prove themselves in this industry.

“I absolutely feel this constant need to prove yourself that you belong or you deserve it just as much as your male counterparts do,” Bailey said.