The Sporting Woman
In 2002, the U.S. women's national ice hockey team won a silver medal in the Winter Games. Two years later, the U.S. women's soccer team won the first-ever medal in the sport in the Summer Games, while the U.S. women's softball and basketball teams took the gold medals yet again. Women compete in most major sports in the Games and other international events, and 2005 presents a drastically different perspective of women athletes than a snapshot taken even 30 years ago. Within one generation, the athletic opportunities for women have increased dramatically, almost equaling those provided to men.
The early history of women in sports is more about exceptions than inclusion. Although there were women chariot racers, boxers, jockeys and golfers, women athletes were few and far between. There were certainly no professional athletes that were women, and those who were amateurs had no specific rights and no recourse to demand equal treatment under the laws of the sports. Women continued to be the exception to the rule through the beginning of the 20th century.
The development of women's participation is sports can easily be correlated to the movements for equality for women in other areas. Great strides were made in the suffrage and equal rights movements around the turn of the 20th century. Women began to gain in popularity as athletes and demand their rights to equal opportunities in sports. Women's athletic leagues were formed in Canada, including the first women's ice hockey league, and slowly, women began to break through the barriers in many sports. However, there were still heavy social stigmas attached to being athletically competent and women participated at the risk of jeopardizing their reputation.
Probably the most important element for achieving equality for women in sports was the Title IX amendment of 1972, which prevented the educational system from discriminating against anyone based on sex with regard to any educational program receiving federal funding. When President Nixon signed the bill, there were about 30,000 women actively participating in college sports, which averaged to about two teams per college. As Title IX made scholarships and financial aid available for women's teams, women increasingly participated in sports that were previously reserved for men, including wrestling, lacrosse, soccer, hockey and even football. By 2002, there was an average of over eight women's teams per college.
Since the passing of Title IX, many have decried the advances made under it, largely because many men's teams have been cut from college and university athletic programs due to additional funding needed for separate women's programs. Advocates on both sides will continue to debate the necessity and validity of the action. It must be agreed, however, the providing athletic opportunities for women has changed the shape of perceived gender roles and allowed greater opportunities for a host of women athletes.
In 2002, the U.S. women's national ice hockey team won a silver medal in the Winter Games. Two years later, the U.S. women's soccer team won the first-ever medal in the sport in the Summer Games, while the U.S. women's softball and basketball teams took the gold medals yet again. Women compete in most major sports in the Games and other international events, and 2005 presents a drastically different perspective of women athletes than a snapshot taken even 30 years ago. Within one generation, the athletic opportunities for women have increased dramatically, almost equaling those provided to men.
The early history of women in sports is more about exceptions than inclusion. Although there were women chariot racers, boxers, jockeys and golfers, women athletes were few and far between. There were certainly no professional athletes that were women, and those who were amateurs had no specific rights and no recourse to demand equal treatment under the laws of the sports. Women continued to be the exception to the rule through the beginning of the 20th century.
The development of women's participation is sports can easily be correlated to the movements for equality for women in other areas. Great strides were made in the suffrage and equal rights movements around the turn of the 20th century. Women began to gain in popularity as athletes and demand their rights to equal opportunities in sports. Women's athletic leagues were formed in Canada, including the first women's ice hockey league, and slowly, women began to break through the barriers in many sports. However, there were still heavy social stigmas attached to being athletically competent and women participated at the risk of jeopardizing their reputation.
Probably the most important element for achieving equality for women in sports was the Title IX amendment of 1972, which prevented the educational system from discriminating against anyone based on sex with regard to any educational program receiving federal funding. When President Nixon signed the bill, there were about 30,000 women actively participating in college sports, which averaged to about two teams per college. As Title IX made scholarships and financial aid available for women's teams, women increasingly participated in sports that were previously reserved for men, including wrestling, lacrosse, soccer, hockey and even football. By 2002, there was an average of over eight women's teams per college.
Since the passing of Title IX, many have decried the advances made under it, largely because many men's teams have been cut from college and university athletic programs due to additional funding needed for separate women's programs. Advocates on both sides will continue to debate the necessity and validity of the action. It must be agreed, however, the providing athletic opportunities for women has changed the shape of perceived gender roles and allowed greater opportunities for a host of women athletes.
