Women football commentators judged more harshly than men - even when delivering identical commentary
Published: 19 May 2026
Listeners judge women football commentators more negatively than men, even when delivering identical match commentary, new research from a team shows.
Listeners judge women football commentators more negatively than men, even when delivering identical match commentary, new research from a team at Queen Mary University of London, the University of Glasgow and the University of Southampton shows.
In an initial study, sociolinguists tested how audiences respond to football commentary by playing the same match clips with identical scripts, voiced by either a man or a woman. Researchers also manipulated commentators’ vocal pitch to explore whether having a higher or lower voice shapes listener perceptions.
The results were clear. Women commentators received more negative ratings overall than men, with the harshest judgements directed at lower-pitched female voices, undermining claims by pundits that women’s higher pitch is a “problem” for women in the commentary booth
The findings highlight what researchers describe as a “double bind” for women working in football commentary. Women are penalised both for sounding too feminine and for not conforming to expectations of how women “should” sound.
A follow-up study also examined the role of accent, comparing a middle-class Southern British accent with a working-class Essex accent. While male commentators were largely unaffected by differences in accent, female commentators were rated more negatively when using the Essex accent, pointing to the heightened scrutiny applied to working-class women’s voices in the sport.
There were some more encouraging findings. Listeners who had a greater interest in football more generally were less likely to rate women negatively, suggesting that negative attitudes are not shared by all football fans, and particularly not by those who are most invested in the sport.
Dr Louis Strange, Lecturer in Sociolinguistics at the University of Glasgow, said: “These findings highlight how sometimes our preconceptions around language aren’t quite right. While some pundits have claimed that women’s voices are too high to commentate on men’s games, our findings show that actually women are judged more harshly when they have a lower voice.
"What’s encouraging is that engagement matters. The more people are actually interested in football, the more those attitudes begin to shift.”
Dr Sophie Holmes-Elliott, Senior Lecturer in Sociolinguistics at Queen Mary University of London, said: “Even when women are saying exactly the same thing as men, they are judged more negatively. It shows how strong expectations still are around who ‘belongs’ in football commentary, and how they should sound.
This goes beyond football, it reflects the challenges faced by women as they strive for equal recognition and opportunities at work, especially in public-facing roles.”
Dr Matthew Hunt, Lecturer in Sociolinguistics at the University of Southampton, said: “What’s particularly interesting is how subtle differences, such as pitch or accent, can have a significant impact on how commentators are perceived. These kinds of judgements often happen unconsciously, but they can shape who is accepted and who is challenged in high-profile roles like football commentary.”
The researchers will present their latest findings at a public event at Queen Mary University of London, bringing together voices from across football, media and academia to explore how language, bias and everyday attitudes continue to shape participation in the game.
The event - Gender Penalty: language, gender & bias in football - will feature a roundtable discussion with comedian Chloe Petts, broadcaster Emily Herbert and Professor Stacey Pope.
The research was conducted by:
- Dr Louis Strange, Lecturer in Sociolinguistics, University of Glasgow (Principal Investigator)
- Dr Sophie Holmes-Elliott, Senior Lecturer in Sociolinguistics, Queen Mary University of London
- Dr Matthew Hunt, Lecturer in Sociolinguistics, University of Southampton
Gender Penalty: language, gender & bias in football
- Date: Tuesday 26 May, 6:00pm-7:15pm
- Location: Mason Lecture Theatre, Bancroft Building, Mile End, Queen Mary University of London
- Tickets: Register (for free) via Eventbrite
First published: 19 May 2026