An Analysis of Sportswomen On the Covers and in the Feature Articles of Women's Sports and Fitness Magazine, 1975-1989

This study analyzes the treatment of athletes in Women's Sports and Fitness between 1975 and 1989. Author, article length, gender, sport, race, and sporting role were assessed for each article; the number of accompanying pictures to each article and the characteristics of those featured in the articles were also tallied. Gender, race, sport, and active or posed status of the individual appearing on the cover were coded. Whites were featured in 92% of the articles, mostly in tennis, running, track, basketball, and golf. Of the 151 covers, 98. 7% showed females with 92% whites and 8% blacks. This magazine, on its covers and in its feature articles, changed its emphasis from reporting on traditional sports and competitions to focusing on fitness activities for all women.