Presentation Abstract

Student's Name: Megan Lachance '26

Co-registrant Names:

Type of Presentation: Research Presentation: One or more registrants presenting research

Presentation Title: "Gender Bias in The Olympic's Media Coverage"

Abstract:

Over the past century, there has been a dramatic increase in the presence of women at the Olympics; no women competed as athletes or worked in the media in the early 1900s, but by the 2024 summer Olympics there was almost equal gender participation all around. Progress has continued steadily in terms of equality, representation, and visibility for women.

This study examines the literature and looks at the 2026 Olympics to assess how men and women were treated differently in terms of uniforms, camera angles, coverage, headlines, visibility, how broadcasters speak about each gender, and whether these behaviors are conscious or subconscious.

The data will be drawn from existing quantitative data: media coverage statistics, Olympic athlete gender gaps, and on-air coverage statistics for both men’s and women’s sports. Qualitative data from women in sports will also be assessed: how do they think women are treated and what did they notice in the Olympic coverage. The research will investigate strategies for encouraging young girls to pursue careers in sports, the visibility of female role-models, and accountability in the workplace.

Data will be analyzed to identify common patterns and themes such as academic efficiency, accessibility of learning tools, ethical concerns, and perceived advantages or disadvantages. The goal of this informative study is not to promote or discourage Al use, but to provide a clearer understanding of how Al is currently shaping the student experience at Franklin Pierce University and how it may influence the future of higher education.

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