“Is It So Bothersome That a Woman Has a Senior Position?”: False Empowerment in the Representation of Women in Sports TV Series

Abstract

The paradigm shift in televised/streamed sports-themed series is examined from an intersectional and feminist studies perspective using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitatively, the study investigates 208 characters across 15 U.S. and European series broadcast in Spain on leading audiovisual platforms and television channels between 2018 and 2023. Female characters remain invisible, objectified, and in secondary positions, and are underrepresented as players, coaches, and managers. The analysis of recurring traits confirms false empowerment, substantiated by the persistence of traditional stereotypes and the emergence of new chauvinistic traits. Qualitatively, focus groups revealed antagonistic views between male and female viewers on fundamental gender issues. The analysis of production and male reception confirms the hypothesis on the representation of women in sports fiction, which appears to remain rooted in gender stereotypes while rejecting feminist demands. By contrast, the analysis of female reception does not align with the hypothesis, consistent with the approaches of gender studies.