They're just as sadistic as any group of boys! A content analysis of news coverage of sport-related hazing incidents in high schools

This article describes a content analysis of newspaper coverage of two instances of high school hazing, both by athletes and both receiving national attention. One incident involved females hazing underclassmen at a Powderpuff football game and the other involved football players from Long Island at a pre-season camp. Results showed that, while female hazing needed to be explained and contextualized, in general, the male hazing did not. It is argued this is because media coverage of both deviance and sport is highly gendered, relying on hegemonic masculinity and emphasized femininity. Hazing by males is considered par for the course. Further, commentary about the incidents demonstrated racial and class biases.