The Unequal Language of Sport CNN
Olympics 2016: Battle of the sexes in the unequal language of sport
Updated 1557 GMT (2357 HKT) August 3, 2016
Story highlights
How are women and men talked about in sport?
Study published by British university
It analyzed over 160 million words
(CNN)Welcome to the world of sport. It's a world where men are "strong, big, real, great or fastest," while women are more likely to be "aged, pregnant or unmarried."
That's the conclusion of new research from the UK's Cambridge University Press, which has looked at the way we talk about men and women in sport.
Analyzing over 160 million words from decades of newspapers, academic papers, tweets and blogs, the study finds men are three times more likely than women to be mentioned in a sporting context, while women are disproportionately described in relation to their marital status, age or appearance.
"People perhaps aren't aware of the differences in the way people focus on the appearance and marital status of female athletes," Cambridge language researcher Sarah Grieves told CNN Sport ahead of the start of the Olympic Games on Friday.
"The research is merely descriptive -- and doesn't aim to provide answers to larger questions -- but it does bring to the fore things people maybe aren't consciously aware of when they're speaking about different genders in sports."
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Golf makes its return to the Games after a 112-year absence and Lydia Ko is hoping to play a starring role. At 19, the Korean-born New Zealander is already the world No.1 and is hoping to add a gold medal to her already extensive trophy haul.
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Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Two years ago the tears flowed as Brazil's World Cup adventure came to a shuddering halt. Now Neymar is hoping to bring a smile back to his homeland with success in the football tournament. He skipped the Copa America to play at his home Games and the Barcelona star will be the main man in Rio.
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Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Uzbekistan's Oksana Chusovitina will be competing at her seventh Olympics -- a record which no other gymnast can match. Her first Games was back in 1992 where she won a gold medal there as a member of the Unified Team (made up of athletes from former Soviet countries). She won bronze for Uzbekistan on the vault at Beijing in 2008 and will be hoping for more success this time around at the age of 40.
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Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Japan's Kohei Uchimura is aiming to defend his all-around title at Rio after his success in London. With the next Olympics in his home country of Japan, the 27-year-old is hoping to head into Tokyo as a double Olympic champion.
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Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
She's only 19 but Simone Biles is already the most decorated American female gymnast in World Championships history with a total of 14 medals -- including a record 10 golds. She's the first woman in 42 years to win four straight national title and the first African-American to be world all-around champion and first woman to win three consecutive world all-around titles.
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Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
New Zealand's Lisa Carrington has ruled the waves in the canoe world since winning gold in the K-1 200m at the 2012 Games -- just a year after she had become world champion. The 27-year-old is going for gold in both the K1 200m and K1 500m and is unbeaten in the shorter distance over the past five years. She won her fourth consecutive world title over the K1 200m distance last year, after securing the K1 500m world championship crown for the first time.
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A cursory internet search suggests the study might be on to something.
A search of British heptathlete Jessica Ennis Hill's name on Tuesday produced the top result of "Ennis-Hill bidding to become third new mum to retain Olympic gold," while rower Helen Glover is asked in a Daily Mail story how she cares for her skin and how training affects her hair.
READ MORE: 'Go and have a baby' comments spark fury from spurned cyclist
And, while the study focuses primarily on British and American samples, it does look at English language use from all over the world.
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So even when Jamaica's double Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is favorably described in purely sporting terms, she's still almost always mentioned with recourse to her male counterpart, Usain Bolt.
The research also shows the way women are differentiated by gender marking, both in terms of naming the sport itself (Wimbledon ladies' singles) and the athletes participating (woman golfer).
Men's sport is typically considered the default, insofar as it does not require gender marking.
"You would never come into the office and say 'Did you see the men's football last night,'" Grieves explains.
India sends its first female wrestlers to the Olympics 02:33
Perspective
However, journalist and broadcaster Elizabeth Ammon told CNN Sport all the female cricket players she knows "have no issue with being described as a "batsman" or being in the "'third man" fielding position.
In her experience, gendered language -- when it does apply -- needn't necessarily be alienating.
"If I heard on the radio that England were 200-1 in the cricket, I'd be confused at first if it wasn't referring to the men's game," Ammon says.
Meanwhile a woman's age might well be mentioned in broadcasting, she continues, but this is equally the case in the men's game.
For Ammon, many women players would be more concerned about issues such as funding or their sport's popularity.
READ MORE: When will women's teams get equal buzz?
Perhaps then this is less a problem within sports reporting and more about gender inequality in society at large?
Grieves believes it's "really hard" to know what comes first; that is, "whether it's the people reflecting the language they read, or the sports journalists simply reflecting the real language that people are using."
In her words, "it's a real chicken and egg question," but with a further study of Rio 2016 on the horizon, the Olympics provide an opportunity to see if attitudes have changed over time.
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/03/sport/sexism-sport-rio-olympic-games/
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Kim Woojin of South Korea has already won two world championship titles but this will be the archer's first Olympics. The 24-year-old missed the cut in 2012 but will be one of the favorites this time around.
Hide Caption
17 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Italy's Rossella Fiamingo will be looking to add the Olympic épée title to her two world championship crowns. The 25-year-old, who hails from Catania, is her country's big hope for gold in Rio.
Hide Caption
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Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Brazil's beach volleyball duo Talita Antunes and Larissa Franca are big favorites to win gold in their home Games. The pair are seeded No.1 in the draw and were winners the 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour.
Hide Caption
19 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Britain's Nicola Adams will arrive in Rio as the reigning Olympic, world, Commonwealth and European Games champion. The 33-year-old flyweight is aiming to become first British boxer since Harry Mallin in 1924 to successfully defend an Olympic gold medal.
Hide Caption
20 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
He's the face of the Games and already has six gold medals -- so could Usain Bolt do the "Triple-Triple" in Rio? Few would bet against the most successful sprint star in Olympic history as he goes in the 100 meters, 200m, and 4x100m relay. He is also aiming to become the first man to win three successive 100m Olympic titles.
Hide Caption
1 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
He's the reigning Olympic champion who simply does not know how to lose -- and Ashton Eaton is looking good for a repeat of his London heroics of four years ago. The world's leader in decathlon, who holds the world record, will be one of the leading medal hopes for the U.S. in Brazil.
Hide Caption
2 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Genzebe Dibaba was named as the Laureus female athlete of the year in 2015 after breaking three world records in two weeks, setting new marks in the 1,500m indoor, 3,000m and two mile indoor events. The Ethiopian, 25, will be going for gold in the 1,500m.
Hide Caption
3 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Dutch sprinter Dafne Schippers will be aiming for double gold in Rio with the 100m and 200m on her radar. Schippers, who clocked a world record time to win the 200m at the 2015 world championships, won silver in the shorter distance.
Hide Caption
4 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is aiming to become the first athlete to win three straight 100m golds at the Olympics -- and she could do it before Usain Bolt. This time around she's dropped the 200m and will be putting all her focus and energy into the 100m. Her opponents have been warned.
Hide Caption
5 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
She was the face of the London 2012 Games and one of the big winners on a historic "Super Saturday" -- but there could be even more success to come for Jessica Ennis-Hill. The Olympic and world heptathlon champion, is in great shape going into Rio and is one of the favorites for gold.
Hide Caption
6 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
South Africa's Caster Semanya is one of the big names chasing success in the 800m in Rio. Semenya has been in fine form this year and could even double up in the 400m. She was forced to undergo gender testing after becoming the world 800m champion in 2009 before going on to win silver in the event at the London 2012 Olympics.
Hide Caption
7 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Katie Ledecky stunned the world at London 2012 by clocking the second fastest 800m time in history and winning the gold at the age of just 15. Since then, the U.S. star has set 11 world records and won every major international race she has competed in.
Hide Caption
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Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Having won four gold medals and a bronze in London, Missy Franklin will be leading the charge for Team USA in the pool once again. Now 21, and the holder of six world championship gold medals, she'll be the one to beat rather than the surprise package as she was four years ago.
Hide Caption
9 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Michael Phelps will compete at a fifth Olympic Games with an eye on adding to his haul off 22 medals -- 18 of which are gold. The 31-year-old retired from the pool after the 2012 Games but made his comeback two years later.
Hide Caption
10 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Golf makes its return to the Games after a 112-year absence and Lydia Ko is hoping to play a starring role. At 19, the Korean-born New Zealander is already the world No.1 and is hoping to add a gold medal to her already extensive trophy haul.
Hide Caption
11 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Two years ago the tears flowed as Brazil's World Cup adventure came to a shuddering halt. Now Neymar is hoping to bring a smile back to his homeland with success in the football tournament. He skipped the Copa America to play at his home Games and the Barcelona star will be the main man in Rio.
Hide Caption
12 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Uzbekistan's Oksana Chusovitina will be competing at her seventh Olympics -- a record which no other gymnast can match. Her first Games was back in 1992 where she won a gold medal there as a member of the Unified Team (made up of athletes from former Soviet countries). She won bronze for Uzbekistan on the vault at Beijing in 2008 and will be hoping for more success this time around at the age of 40.
Hide Caption
13 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Japan's Kohei Uchimura is aiming to defend his all-around title at Rio after his success in London. With the next Olympics in his home country of Japan, the 27-year-old is hoping to head into Tokyo as a double Olympic champion.
Hide Caption
14 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
She's only 19 but Simone Biles is already the most decorated American female gymnast in World Championships history with a total of 14 medals -- including a record 10 golds. She's the first woman in 42 years to win four straight national title and the first African-American to be world all-around champion and first woman to win three consecutive world all-around titles.
Hide Caption
15 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
New Zealand's Lisa Carrington has ruled the waves in the canoe world since winning gold in the K-1 200m at the 2012 Games -- just a year after she had become world champion. The 27-year-old is going for gold in both the K1 200m and K1 500m and is unbeaten in the shorter distance over the past five years. She won her fourth consecutive world title over the K1 200m distance last year, after securing the K1 500m world championship crown for the first time.
Hide Caption
16 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Kim Woojin of South Korea has already won two world championship titles but this will be the archer's first Olympics. The 24-year-old missed the cut in 2012 but will be one of the favorites this time around.
Hide Caption
17 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Italy's Rossella Fiamingo will be looking to add the Olympic épée title to her two world championship crowns. The 25-year-old, who hails from Catania, is her country's big hope for gold in Rio.
Hide Caption
18 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Brazil's beach volleyball duo Talita Antunes and Larissa Franca are big favorites to win gold in their home Games. The pair are seeded No.1 in the draw and were winners the 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour.
Hide Caption
19 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Britain's Nicola Adams will arrive in Rio as the reigning Olympic, world, Commonwealth and European Games champion. The 33-year-old flyweight is aiming to become first British boxer since Harry Mallin in 1924 to successfully defend an Olympic gold medal.
Hide Caption
20 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
He's the face of the Games and already has six gold medals -- so could Usain Bolt do the "Triple-Triple" in Rio? Few would bet against the most successful sprint star in Olympic history as he goes in the 100 meters, 200m, and 4x100m relay. He is also aiming to become the first man to win three successive 100m Olympic titles.
Hide Caption
1 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
He's the reigning Olympic champion who simply does not know how to lose -- and Ashton Eaton is looking good for a repeat of his London heroics of four years ago. The world's leader in decathlon, who holds the world record, will be one of the leading medal hopes for the U.S. in Brazil.
Hide Caption
2 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Genzebe Dibaba was named as the Laureus female athlete of the year in 2015 after breaking three world records in two weeks, setting new marks in the 1,500m indoor, 3,000m and two mile indoor events. The Ethiopian, 25, will be going for gold in the 1,500m.
Hide Caption
3 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Dutch sprinter Dafne Schippers will be aiming for double gold in Rio with the 100m and 200m on her radar. Schippers, who clocked a world record time to win the 200m at the 2015 world championships, won silver in the shorter distance.
Hide Caption
4 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is aiming to become the first athlete to win three straight 100m golds at the Olympics -- and she could do it before Usain Bolt. This time around she's dropped the 200m and will be putting all her focus and energy into the 100m. Her opponents have been warned.
Hide Caption
5 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
She was the face of the London 2012 Games and one of the big winners on a historic "Super Saturday" -- but there could be even more success to come for Jessica Ennis-Hill. The Olympic and world heptathlon champion, is in great shape going into Rio and is one of the favorites for gold.
Hide Caption
6 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
South Africa's Caster Semanya is one of the big names chasing success in the 800m in Rio. Semenya has been in fine form this year and could even double up in the 400m. She was forced to undergo gender testing after becoming the world 800m champion in 2009 before going on to win silver in the event at the London 2012 Olympics.
Hide Caption
7 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Katie Ledecky stunned the world at London 2012 by clocking the second fastest 800m time in history and winning the gold at the age of just 15. Since then, the U.S. star has set 11 world records and won every major international race she has competed in.
Hide Caption
8 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Having won four gold medals and a bronze in London, Missy Franklin will be leading the charge for Team USA in the pool once again. Now 21, and the holder of six world championship gold medals, she'll be the one to beat rather than the surprise package as she was four years ago.
Hide Caption
9 of 20
Photos: Rio 2016: Top athletes to watch
Michael Phelps will compete at a fifth Olympic Games with an eye on adding to his haul off 22 medals -- 18 of which are gold. The 31-year-old retired from the pool after the 2012 Games but made his comeback two years later.
Hide Caption
10 of 20