When I decided to study Sport Journalism at University, I knew I would be putting myself into a very male-dominated environment. That didn’t faze me, and it still doesn’t today but I would be lying if I said that there haven’t been times when being the only girl in my second-year course has made me feel slightly alone.
I have always had an interest in sports, in Primary school I was one of those children who felt like PE was where they could do well. Things like the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and European Championships have always excited me, and I absolutely love Formula One. Seeing sports presenters like Clare Balding, Gabby Logan, Natalie Pinkham, and many others on my TV has always filled me with the hope that maybe I can achieve what I want too.
I think we can all agree though that sport has been directed at being a man’s thing for a long time. Progress has of course been made and steps continue to be taken in trying to make sport more inclusive for all, but there is still a long way to go. The Women’s Euro 2022 is a clear example of a time when females were at the forefront of sport in England, and ever since then, more appreciation has been shown to women’s football and athletes in general.
Being a female fan of sports also has its challenges. Many times, I have seen girls be told that the reason they like things like Formula One and Football is because they are attracted to the athletes. I can promise you that my decision to dedicate the majority of my time and University degree to sports, is not because I find the competitors attractive, but because I love the excitement, suspense, and even heartbreak that can only come when watching live sports, and I’m sure this is a feeling that I share with any and all sports fans whomever they may be.
Being the only girl in my sports lectures is slightly nerve-wracking. I’m lucky enough to be on a course where nobody has ever made me feel like I shouldn’t be there or don’t know as much as them, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t get nervous when it comes to speaking in front of everyone. A lot of the nerves I feel are down to the fact that as I mentioned earlier sport has been presented as a man’s thing. Being the only girl in the room there is a feeling of not just trying to show that I know what I’m talking about, but also a pressure of trying to show that girls in general know what they’re talking about when it comes to sport.
As I said even though there are some slight nerves and pressure, the environment that I am in at university is nothing but positive. Of course, It would be great if there were other girls in my sports lectures, and I hope that as the years go by more and more girls will want to take a degree that is similar to mine, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter whom I am surrounded by as long as we all share the same passion which is sport.
My experience in Sport Journalism I know is not a rare one. It is difficult in any situation to feel different to everyone you are surrounded by, and that doesn’t only include gender or sport it can be anything. For me, I feel that what once started out as a daunting situation is now something that has helped me grow as a person and gain more confidence in myself.
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