A Comparative Analysis of Men’s and Women’s Sports Coverage in Pakistani Dailies

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine and compare the representation of men’s and women’s sports coverage in prominent Pakistani newspapers. The primary objective was to identify patterns of gender bias in the quantity, tone, framing, and visual portrayal of athletes and to assess whether media narratives reinforce traditional gender roles. It aimed to determine how media institutions in Pakistan present male and female athletes differently, and what implications such portrayals carry for gender equity in sports journalism and the broader public perception of female athletes.
A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining both quantitative and qualitative content analysis. The research focused on three widely circulated Pakistani newspapers: Dawn (English), Jang (Urdu), and The News International (English). A total of 32 sports-related articles were selected over a three-month period, covering October to December 2024. Theoretical frameworks including Framing Theory, Feminist Media Theory, and Social Role Theory were applied to critically assess how media constructs gender roles through sports coverage.