Gender, authority and the role of the referee in sportjournalism

This study examines how female football referees are represented in Swedish sports journalism between 2020 and 2025. Despite growing research on gender and media, the representation of referees, particularly women, remains understudied. Using a qualitative framing analysis of thirteen news and opinion articles from national and regional media outlets, the study investigates how gendered roles, dramaturgical positions, and linguistic strategies shape media portrayals of referees. Drawing on representation theory, Goffman’s dramaturgical perspective, and framing theory, the analysis reveals clear asymmetries in how male and female referees are depicted. Female referees are frequently framed as pioneers, symbols of progress, or emotionally exposed actors, with emphasis placed on their gender and the challenges they face in a male-dominated field. Male referees, by contrast, are presented as the neutral norm, with focus placed on technical competence rather than identity. These findings show that sports journalism continues to reproduce gendered norms that both highlight and constrain women’s legitimacy in authoritative sporting roles. The study contributes to research on gender and media by illuminating how journalistic narratives shape understandings of authority, professionalism, and gender within football. It also underscores the importance of critical media awareness in efforts toward greater equality in sport.