Investigating Harassment of Female Sports Journalists in Islamic Countries: An Analysis of User-Generated Content on the X Platform in Turkey and Pakistan

Abstract

This study explored online harassment directed at female sports journalists in Turkey and Pakistan through a content analysis of 400 tweets from Platform X. The research revealed that both Turkish and Pakistani journalists experienced significant harassment, with verbal abuse being the most common form. Notably, Pakistani journalists faced a higher frequency of threats of violence compared to their Turkish counterparts. This finding highlighted the necessity for tailored strategies to address the varying levels and types of harassment in each country. The study also identified key ideologies driving this harassment. In both Turkey and Pakistan, patriarchal norms and gender stereotypes played significant roles, but the specific ideologies differed: religious conservatism was more influential in Pakistan, while nationalistic sentiments were prominent in Turkey. These ideologies contributed to a hostile environment for female sports journalists, reinforcing gender biases and impeding progress toward gender equality in sports journalism. The research suggested that media organizations, platform providers, and policymakers must collaborate to develop and implement effective strategies. Recommendations included creating and enforcing anti-harassment policies, improving platform moderation and reporting systems, and enacting legal protections against online abuse. Future research should further investigate intervention effectiveness, explore experiences across different contexts, and analyse other social media platforms to enhance understanding and support for female journalists, aiming to advance gender equality in sports journalism.