A Distraction to the Game”

Repercussions of Sexual Violence Perpetrated by Male Athletes as Depicted in Media Narratives

Bibliographic Data

ID12437261
AuthorsKim Dubé (0000-0002-5258-3784, Université de Moncton, corresponding author), Michael Silverman (0000-0002-2904-597X, University of Ottawa), Catherine Flynn (0000-0001-7645-3469, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi)
Year2026
Volume32
Issue8
Pages10778012261425947-10778012261425947
Publication date2026-03-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueViolence Against Women (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1077-8012 • E-ISSN: 1552-8448
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/10778012261425947
PMID41781357
OpenAlexW7133869787
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited29

News media play a crucial role in shaping the public's understanding of sexual violence (SV), yet media outlets continue to offer inadequate definitions/representations of SV. The present study demonstrates how Canadian media informs the public about SV perpetrated by male athletes. A total of 273 news articles from six major English and French newspapers were analyzed. Data was collected from two periods: before the #MeToo movement (2014-2016) and after (2018-2019). The findings reveal that media coverage prioritizes establishing a positive public image for the accused athlete by (re)showcasing their sporting achievements, rather than focusing on survivors. Media discourse also emphasizes the impact of SV accusations on athletes and their teams, while rarely addressing the impacts of SV on survivors or society

Athletes · Distraction · Mass media · Media coverage · News media · Newspaper · Public discourse · Sexual violence · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies · Sport Psychology and Performance · Sports, Gender, and Society

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