She Hasn’t Even Graduated From College Yet, But She’s Already Slashing The Stigma Surrounding Women In Sports Broadcasting
If you were asked to name some of the most influential sports broadcasters in history, who would you think of first?
Perhaps Cris Collinsworth, the former NFL wide receiver who has been broadcasting since 1989, or Mike Breen, legendary NBA play-by-play announcer and longtime broadcaster for the New York Knicks.
And if you are a diehard baseball fan, John Sterling– the revered radio announcer for the New York Yankees– might immediately come to mind.
The sad reality, though, is that whoever just popped into your head is probably not a woman. And that’s a massive problem.
Broadcasters such as Erin Andrews, Cari Champion, and Josina Anderson are breaking down the barriers to entry for women in sports journalism every day. However, men are still dominating this work sector.
According to Zippia, only sixteen and a half percent of sports broadcasters are women. Plus, women sportscasters only earn ninety-three cents for each dollar that their male counterparts take home.
This disparity is not due to a difference in ability, though. Instead, it stems from the belief that women are unable to understand and effectively communicate the ins and out’s of sports games and stats– which is just plain wrong.
And one student journalist named Emmy Raine Curtis is proving that to aspiring young sportscasters around the world.
TikTok; pictured above is Emmy in one of her videos
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
Emmy currently attends the University of Toronto, where she is studying journalism in hopes of becoming a sports broadcaster. Aside from her studies, she also currently works at TSN’s Sportscentre as a story editor and at FIFA as a media operations team leader.
Despite not yet officially graduating with her degree or entering the journalism field full-time, though, Emmy has still been subjected to the same old tired beliefs and derogatory comments about women in sportscasting.
But rather than letting that deter her from pursuing her dream, Emmy has used the stereotype to fuel her fire and work harder. On top of that, she has taken to social media– specifically TikTok– to share her experiences and encourage other women who are thinking of getting into sports journalism.
Most recently, Emmy posted a video on TikTok sharing just a few of the gender-discriminatory phrases that have been shared in the media regarding women sportscasters.
“Special football broadcasts are to be handled mostly by men,” one read.
“Women are ruining fantasy football,” said another.
“It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes,” read a third.
Then, Emmy compiled various images of herself working both in the broadcast studio and on the sidelines. And she is totally killing it.
“Change is coming. This is what motivates us,” Emmy captioned the video, which seriously resonated with the TikTok community. It garnered over one hundred and thirteen thousand views, gained nearly twenty-five thousand likes, and spurred hundreds of comments.
“I got CHILLS watching this. As a woman who tried to make it in sports reporting but became discouraged by the culture, I am so proud of you,” commented one user.
“I dreamed of being a sports broadcaster for the NHL, and I was so scared to not be taken seriously as a female. You are so inspiring!” wrote a second user.
“You are a queen! Thank you for breaking boundaries,” said a third.
The rest of Emmy’s TikTok account, @ItsEmRaine, is also dedicated to slashing the stigma surrounding female sportscasters. It has already amassed over twenty-five thousand followers and gained a collective 1.4 million likes.
So, if you love sports, dream of being a sports broadcaster, or simply want to support other women who are trying to even the playing field, you can check out Emmy’s TikTok account linked here. Or, to watch Emmy’s original TikTok, visit the link here.
If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chick’s True Crime Tribe
More About:Sports
Read This Next
