The blame game: how video evidence changes narratives of misogynistic violence in sports discourse

Violence against women is prevalent both in and outside the sports world, and dozens of professional athletes have been accused, although the reactions and consequences to such accusations are not always the same. This study examines three instances of athletes committing misogynistic violence and the effect that video evidence has on sports media discourse. We look at a wide range of online media sources and print newspaper articles (n = 153) to see how the discourse changes after video evidence has been released publicly. We rely on feminist theory, hegemonic masculinity, and mediated witnessing as theoretical frameworks to conduct a critical discourse analysis. Video evidence of violence against women by athletes alters the way sports journalists cover them by countering hegemonic narratives about responsibility, player value, rehabilitation, and procedure. This study builds on previous scholarship about how evidentiary video can alter the way sports media subjugate women and perpetuate hegemonic masculinity.