Take five: “Why a gender lens matters in how we see and report on sport”

Author: Ahjung Lee

Sports reporting plays an important role in shaping perceptions of athletes and sport. On 26 August 2026, the UN Women Knowledge and Partnerships Centre in the Republic of Korea visited the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), where it presented KSOC President Seung-min Ryu with the Korean-language edition of the Gender-Responsive Sports Reporting Handbook, translated by the Centre. KSOC subsequently distributed the handbook to approximately 500 journalists.

In this interview, Jung Hee Shin, Chair of the KSOC Gender Equality Committee, who helped facilitate the meeting, reflects on the value of examining how sport is viewed and reported through a gender lens.

Why does a gender lens matter in the way sport is reported?

Sports reporting influences how people see athletes and sport. For women athletes, coverage can sometimes focus more on their appearance, age or personal lives than on their performance and achievements.

I believe this approach is not about giving women athletes preferential treatment. Rather, it is about applying the same standards to all athletes and focusing on their skills, effort, records and achievements.

What motivated KSOC to distribute the Korean-language edition of the handbook to sports journalists?

We recognize that gender equality in sport is not achieved only on the playing field. The way sport is covered in the media, including which stories are told and amplified, also matters. The role of the media becomes especially significant during major sporting events such as the Asian Games, when a large number of athletes and sports receive heightened public attention.

I see this UN Women resource as a practical tool that encourages media professionals to reflect on gender equality throughout the reporting process.

What does a gender-responsive approach to sports reporting look like in practice?

Fundamentally, it means applying consistent standards to women and men athletes. Journalists can ask themselves simple questions such as: “Would I use the same expression to describe a man athlete?” or “Does this photograph highlight the athlete’s performance and skills rather than their appearance?”

It also means ensuring that coverage reflects the full range of roles women hold across the sport sector, including as athletes, coaches, referees, administrators, officials and leaders, while giving greater visibility to their expertise and voices.

How is KSOC working to foster a more gender-equal sporting environment?

We believe that broadening women's participation in sport goes beyond increasing the number of women athletes. It also requires strengthening women’s participation and leadership across the entire sport ecosystem, including among coaches, referees, administrators and sports leaders. 

I have encountered many obstacles in sport myself. For that reason, rather than simply telling the next generation to "break through the barriers", we are working to help create a sporting environment in which those barriers do not exist in the first place.

What message would you like to share with the sports community and media ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?

The Asian Games are an important platform to reflect on the kind of sporting culture we are working to build. I hope the Games will shine a light not only on the performance and achievements of women athletes, but also on the contributions of women coaches, referees, administrators and sports leaders.

I believe gender equality is not an additional or secondary consideration in sport, but a core value that is essential to its sustainable future. Applying a gender lens to the way we see and report on sport can be a meaningful starting point for building that future.