Tart or Smart? The Two Sides of Female Sports Reporters

When I first embarked on this topic of whether or not women should be allowed in sports media, I said, “yes,” slammed my fist down, “Yes, yes, yes!” because it’s a profession of intellect. But as I went through my research for the top three female sports journalists, hoping to find integrity and reputation, these other websites began popping up.
 
In light of recent sexual harassment developments brought up by The Women Association for Sports Media (AWSM) which Mexico’s TV Azteca’s female reporter, Ines Sainz, endured in a New York Jets football locker room, has drawn up issues about how women are treated in sports media as well as their roles and how women have and should conduct themselves as sports journalists.
 
In short, Sainz has accepted Jets owner's, Woody Johnson’s, apology, and in response to the incident, the NFL Commissioner has implemented a training program for all 32 teams on proper conduct in the workplace and treatment of media personnel. Sainz eventually lashed out how AWSM handled the matter, accusing them of being impulsive, which I suspect is due to the fact that there has been more coverage on her skimpy clothes than it has been an issue about sexism in the NFL.
 
As I went about my search for these bright, well-respected female sports journalists – I came across this website, Man Cave Sports. In response to the Sainz versus Jets debacle, Man Cave Sports has found a reason in which to start a rating system of the top 10 hottest female sports reporters. They’re currently at number 8. Doesn’t this piss you off? But in defense of this dick-driven platform – Ines Sainz does perpetuate this peanut brained, sexist, grunt-tastic behavior.     
 
Two other sites directly critiqued Sainz’s choices in professional (or lack there of) attire (see her in: form fitting top with ‘BIMBO’ written across, skin tight jeans, bikini photo shoots). The Deseret News notes her outfits and questions why she was in the Jets locker room in the first place and The Player Press: Sportscaster Network compares her to a stripper and challenges her legitimacy as a reporter.
 
I have to unfortunately agree with both of these arguments. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to act seriously. Stop wearing shirts that direct attention to your chest with the words ‘BIMBO’ slapped across your boobs. It’s a male driven industry, use commonsense! Stop acting like you’re a piece of steak waiting to be slobbered on.
 
In contrast, Christine Brennan, who was the first female sportswriter at the Miami Herald, pioneered the way for aspiring female sports journalists of the future and was the most read female sports columnist in 1997. I don’t see her wearing booty hugging jeans and I don’t see her journalistic integrity being questioned in the media.  
 
Brennan, to my surprise, defended Sainz stating that the NY Jets granted her media credentials to enter the locker room, thus recognizing her as a reporter and should have acted professionally regardless of what Sainz was wearing. Good point Brennan, though I have to question your motives due to your relationship with The Association for Women in Sports Media.
 
Brennan was the first president for AWSM in 1988, and was also granted an AWSM Pioneer Award in 2004 - needless to say, she has been a longtime advocate, and though Sainz bashed the association for their hasty and abrupt complaint on her behalf – I can only assume that Brennan is defending the association through and despite of Sainz.
 
On another incident happening in 2009, when female sports journalist Erin Andrews was taped changing her clothes through a peephole in her hotel room, Brennan wasn’t as supportive tweeting, “women sports journalists need to be smart and not play to the frat house.”
 
As a woman, you command the attention that is given to you. I say, “Yes, women belong in sports media,” but I also think there’s a level of professionalism one must present to be taken seriously in any career, but especially in such a testosterone, meat-head driven environment. If you want to dress like a tart, you’ll get gobbled up. If you want to be respected, you’ll direct it in the way Christine Brennan has by using her intellect, dressed in a business suit.