Do (Weather) Girls Just "Wanna Have Fun?": A Survey of Broadcast Meteorologist Stereotypes and Experiences

Research has shown that women weathercasters are often negatively portrayed in popular media as unintelligent, sexually attractive “weather girls” - but is this stereotype reflective of women in the broadcast meteorology field? And - more importantly - how does this gender stereotype (and other stereotypes associated with ethnicity, physical appearance, or even hair color) impact the everyday experiences of weathercasters?

A survey of broadcast meteorologists, working in diverse markets and geographical regions, was conducted to determine how stereotypes associated with gender and ethnicity translate into “real” interactions between broadcasters and their viewing audiences. In this talk, we present our survey and initial findings, as well as a brief historical overview of the “weather girl” stereotype and implications for achieving greater diversity and equity in the current broadcast meteorology field.