#MoreThanMean - Women in sports ‘face’ harassment
Online harassment of women in sports is a troubling, ongoing issue.
#MoreThanMean hopes to open guys’ eyes – by having them open their mouths. The video shows what happens when real sports fans read real online comments made about women sports reporters … right to their faces.
In reading the statements out loud to women journalists, guys are forced to experience, sometimes for the first time, the shocking online harassment happening to women in sports day in, day out. It serves as proof most sports fans would NEVER say these things to another person – so we shouldn’t type this garbage, either.
We filmed this last week with Sarah Spain and Julie DiCaro - both of whom display amazing poise and dedication. The piece was conceived by Just Not Sports, and directed by Chad Cooper and One Tree Forest Films.
People are encouraged to share the video with hashtag #MoreThanMean to raise awareness about online harassment of women sports reporters.
You can hear a dedicated episode about online harassment with Julie DiCaro & Sports on Earth’s Andrea Hangst here: bit.ly/1WR5evU
I am a women in sports and this video speaks to me loud and clear. While my job may be more ‘behind the scenes’ than these particular ladies, the message is powerful. We have enough issues with women bashing other women that we certainly don’t need to promote anyone else doing it, especially at the level of some of these comments.
The men reading the tweets were visibly shocked, upset and puzzled by comments from their fellow man, which is what really makes this effective. Social media is a mouth piece for anyone and everyone with no consequence. It gives every single individual a public voice, makes everyone a journalist and makes everyone a target. I appreciate the viral effort with this video and hope people see it for what it is- why are people so mean?












