Column: The Sports Industry Needs to Respect Women

Content Warning: Sexual Harassment 

Imagine walking into a room and all eyes turn to you. 

You’re wearing a sage green button-up shirt, black leather pants and equally black boots. While getting ready in the morning, you decided to straighten your hair because you curled it yesterday. But you don’t want to leave it down, so you put the top half in a slick back ponytail. You do your normal game day makeup and feel confident, ready to take on the day. 

In other words — Saturday morning for me while covering the Atlantic 10 men’s basketball tournament. 

I walked into the media room at 11 a.m. ahead of a 1 p.m. tipoff — arriving earlier than I normally do for games. I wanted to figure out where I was sitting on press row and get a snack from the hospitality suite. 

As soon as I walked in, I got a weird feeling in my stomach — the one where you feel like everyone is glaring at you, wondering what you’re doing there. 

Even while wearing my media credentials, I still felt like I didn’t belong. 

I like to consider myself to be a friendly person, especially when attending big events like this because you never know who you’re potentially going to meet. But the interaction made me feel lesser and belittled, like it wasn’t normal for me to be there. 

But my most uncomfortable situation at the tournament happened on Friday, during Loyola’s quarterfinal game against Saint Louis University. 

Sitting in my assigned seat on press row, I greeted my Ramblers Sports Network peers, shook hands with the A10’s media personnel and made conversation with those around me.

One man — I’d estimate in his early 50’s — started to walk by me. I smiled and nodded, just being polite as I do. As he passed by me, he put his hand on my arm and brushed it up and down. 

I was extremely uncomfortable with the interaction. I had no idea who this guy was, and I’m sure he didn’t know me — for him to put his hands on me was completely unacceptable. 

During halftime, I went to the bathroom and texted my boyfriend about what happened. He was shocked to learn this wasn’t the first time I’d experienced something of this nature while working a game. Unfortunately, this is something I’m used to and something I recognize I’ll have to deal with in future sports reporting. 

A study conducted by Temple University’s Elizabeth Taylor found women who work in sports are more likely to be sexually harassed at disproportionate levels. In interviews with 21 women from the sports industry, all of them had experienced some form of workplace sexual harassment. Those harassment claims ranged anywhere from crude jokes to physical assault. 

In a male-dominated field like the sports industry, women tend to not report claims to human resources for fear of not advancing within the industry, according to the study. 

While I haven’t had a need to contact HR regarding a situation like this, I know and agree that, down the line, something could happen to me where I’d need to involve someone higher up in my organization.

The sports industry, while growing, continues to be competitive. Jobs are extremely competitive, often resulting in the chance of not being able to get another if you leave your current one. 

I’ve thought this through multiple times while considering my future. It’s my life dream to work in sports media and for a reputable source, and it’s already hard enough to find a steady, well-paying job in sports. But I’d rather not work in an environment where men think they can take advantage of me. 

Sports are the kind of thing that brings people together — knowing someone who shares your favorite team builds a bond which can’t be replicated. However, the behind the scenes needs to be changed. 

Sports organizations — whether that’s teams or media outlets — need to make their environments more welcoming to those who aren’t men. In a 2023 survey, only 26.2% of the sports industry were women, and the number slowly continues to grow.

As a woman, I shouldn’t feel nervous doing my job, in fear of a man asking what I’m doing there. I shouldn’t have to wonder when I’ll cry next in the bathroom of an arena because I was touched inappropriately by a man. 

This industry needs to change. For my and other women’s sake, I hope it’s soon.