How does gendered tokenism manifest in sport media coverage?

• A. Women are underrepresented, portrayed in stereotyped roles, or limited to certain sports, with less leadership visibility.
• B. Women receive more coverage than men across all sports.
• C. Women are equally represented across all sports and leadership roles.
• D. Coverage focuses only on women's professional leagues.

Answer: (A)

Gendered tokenism in sport media coverage shows up when women are included to give an appearance of parity, but real power and broad representation remain scarce. The best answer describes women as underrepresented, portrayed in stereotyped roles, or limited to certain sports, with less leadership visibility. This reflects tokenism: a small, symbolic presence that sustains male-dominated norms, with women shown in narrow, gendered slots and rarely seen in coaching, management, or top commentary roles. Media coverage often emphasizes aesthetics or personal narratives rather than athletic competition and leadership, which reinforces stereotypes and limits influence. Other statements don’t fit because they suggest more coverage, equal representation, or exclusive focus on women’s leagues, which miss the pattern of superficial inclusion paired with restricted roles.