Chapter 5 From Intersection to Collision: Women’s Sport 1920 –1980

1. Chapter 5 From Intersection to Collision: Women’s Sport 1920 –1980 Stevie Chepko & Lynn Couturier notes by N. Bailey from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

2. Women’s & Men’s Worlds Collide • Greater prosperity, voting rights, sexual mores changing, social mobility growing, access to education • Homosocial world of their grandparents made little sense now • Men and women brought together as friends in schools, churches, and in recreational settings

3. The 60’s movement • Following the Black Civil Rights Movement of the 50’s women questioned assumptions about gender roles • Demanded equality in government, schools, employment, in the family • Questioned gender stereotypes • Changed the world forever

4. Intersecting Worlds • WWI women took men’s jobs and services • Occupations still gendered • Consumer culture growing • YMCA included men, YWCA excluded men • Family ties important for the YM

5. Transition Period • Women’s organizations became subsumed under men’s organizations: • YMCA & YWCA pattern for later: • AIAW and NCAA • 1920’s symbolized a new sexuality • The flapper era

6. Sexologists and Sport • The sexual revolution put men and women together in governmental, recreational, school settings. • New generation of feminists rejected female solidarity and the homosocial world of previous generations • Only heterosexual sex is acceptable; homosocial was suspect as homosexual

7. Krafft-Ebing Sexologist • Girls should avoid certain behavior in order to avoid Uranism • He described what we would call a “tomboy” today and claimed that those girls have a masculine soul and were suspect • Sexual freedom a double edged sword for the older generation of women

8. How Marriage Changed • The Victorian marriage gave way to ideal of companionship and emotional intimacy • New model removed earlier feminists argument against marriage • College women now began marrying at higher rates than earlier. Mrs. Degree

9. Enforced Heterosexual Stereotype • Example of the Babe being femme • Dress, makeup, hairdo, etc. • Sex identity tested in female Olympians • Since the Babe’s time, female athletes continue to think it wise to present a feminine image • If challenge the image get labeled

10. Industrial Leagues • Working class women • Companies used sport for health promotion • YWCA sponsored competitions • Married women didn’t much participate because of domestic duties and social expectations • Leagues remained past the depression

11. Class Issues • Working class women could participate in team sports • Middle and upper class women played golf, tennis, archery, • Women’s sport stars emerged • AAU furnished women Olympians • Women stars didn’t challenge the male sporting world – were the exception

12. Olympic Participation • Establishment of the Modern Olympics tried to exclude women • Women’s place was in the stands cheering on their males • Welfare capitalism of the corporations put women into the Olympics • Over the objections of the women physical educators

13. African American Women’s Sport Experience • Through traditionally black schools and colleges • Men usually served as coaches • Much like the Negro League in baseball, African American women organized regional and national competition in various sports

14. Tidye Pickett & Louise Stokes • Qualified for the Olympic relay team but were replaced by white women who hadn’t qualified – 1932 • They competed in 1936 without much training or coaching • Jesse Owens received widespread support and training

15. Tuskegee Relays • Beginning in 1927 the Tuskegee Relays showcased African American men in track and field, golf, tennis in H.S. and College. • Women shared in the relays in 1929 • First African American gold Olympic medal was won by a woman: Alice Coachman

16. Pride, Purpose, and Visibility • Black colleges allowed women to participate in sport and celebrated their success • Tennessee State coach raised the standard: recruiting, year ‘round practice, financial support • Sport for women: an opportunity for education and economic advancement

17. Women & World War II Era • The war effort • The Al American Baseball Girls Baseball League • Postwar – Women told to go home • G.I Bill sent women to college • Women retuning to college after family raised was started with this generation

18. The Cold War • American women could stay home and take care of the family • Russian women had to work • Old notions of appropriate roles remained even though women and men intersected in the workplace, social settings and in sport

19. The Inevitable Collision • Women’s Liberation of the 1960’s • The Women’s Sports Movement • Battle for equality • Billie Jean King increased prize money • Organizations that recognized race: National Black Feminist Organization, Las Chicanas, The National Welfare Rights Organization, Indian women’s movement

20. Battles for Equality Raged • Sport mirrored the women’s movement in the larger culture • Left DGWS for AIAW activism • Title IX enacted 1972 • Strides have been made • But we’re not there yet • Still not in compliance