Billy Riggs v. Bobby King
On September 20, 1973 Billie Jean King went against Bobby Riggs in an event known to most people as the “Battle of the Sexes” Riggs was known to be very cocky and called King out by saying “ “the best way to handle women is to keep them pregnant and barefoot.” To many peoples surprise King beat Billie in this tennis match with a score of 6-4, 6-3, and 6, 3 with thousands of fans watching the game at the Astrodome. In the opinions of many people, this game has become a gateway for women’s sports.
Even after the commotion with Bobby Riggs having to swallow his own words, him and Billy King remained friends even after what he said about women. Most people remember in a good way, even after his Bobby Riggs death in 1995 Billy King said in reference to the battle of the sexes match that “whether you are a man or a woman you can have both either some skills or you can also help both men and women better understand one another. Later in life Bobby Riggs discovers that he has developed prostate cancer in 1988, and because of this he later established a Tennis Fo...
In May 1932, Fanny noticed that there was no actual league for softball, unlike her male counterparts. So she helped to create the Provincial Women’s Softball Union of Québec, she served as the president. This league is a huge deal, currently many softball players in Quebec and Ontario alike have played under them, either on a team or a tournament. This league was revolutionary at its time, it allowed many girls from all over Quebec to finally participate in softball. The PWSUQ was one way Fanny established herself in the community of sport. Another way was her journalism career for the globe and mail through her column “Sports Reel” she was able to defend women’s sports. It wasn’t uncommon for male writers to write in and express negative opinions of women in sport. Fanny was witty and always had something to say back to them. As insignificant this may seem it was actually a very important event. Through her column Bobbie was able to change the perspectives of many men and women alike of women in
The similarities in the lives of this father and son are uncanny. I will look at the murders committed by both Butch and Willie. They both committed two murders. I will look at the correlation between the two men and the murders they committed. I will touch on their lives and their treatment at home. In addition, how that eventually affected them and the eventual murders they both committed. Their mother has sent them both away. They were both sent to the same juvenile detention centers at different times. This affected both men differently. The psychologists gave them the same diagnosis at different times, but no one realized this at the time. It is astonishing that there was no connection made between the two men. There was bound to be tragedy in their lives given the history in this family. Butch and Willie both committed heinous crimes, but for different reasons. I will look at why I think they killed and what sentences I believe they should have gotten for killing.
Hult explains that in the era between 1890-1920, women physical educators were a tightly knit, dedicated group committed to a tradition of restricted competition, self-governance, and a feminine approach to individual and team sports. They believed that all girls and women should have the opportunity to participate and enjoy sport, not only the talented elite as in the competition-driven male philosophical structure (87). Play-days and sport-days with emphasis on team building games were a means of perpetuating an image of an ideal American female athlete: feminine, beautiful, strong, yet always 'aware of her delicate reproductive system' (89).
Billie Jean King is a pro tennis player who wanted the pay in sports to be equal for women. She won many tournaments such as Wimbledon women’s singles, U.S. Open singles and the French Open. “...first woman athlete to win more than $100,000 in a single year” (“Billie Jean King”). Billie Jean King noticed that women were not winning the same amount of men in prize money. Billie Jean King criticized the prize money that the women would recite. “... women were receiving
She says that part of winning in society is just showing up and admitting that they are lesbian. She believes that she is equal to every other athlete and that her sexual decisions should not matter at all. King takes a very commanding stance and to this day she believes that no one has the right to take her happiness away from her. In The Lesbian, Beauvoir talks about how lesbians usually have a more commanding attitude than straight women because of the missing male figure in their life. Billie Jean King exemplifies this by being such an active leader and by fighting for women’s rights for the greater part of her life. In the interview, King was asked how she felt about the statement that Russian president Vladimir Putin made on gay and lesbian people and how he considers most of them to be pedophiles. King said she took it to heart because she feels as if gay and lesbians are some of the most honest and genuine people in society and she said she would love to have the chance to meet with him in person and ask him exactly what he meant. King went on to say that she hopes that future Olympics or other major sporting events are not played in countries that still discriminate towards gay and lesbian people because it creates unnecessary tension for the athletes. The leadership skills displayed by King are very consistent with the way
... disregard the female team as real (Marshall, 1992). Similarly, Jimmy aggressively handles his conversations with the female ball players. For instance, his initial reaction when a ball player messed up was yelling and directly stating what they did wrong; specifically, Jimmy’s reaction towards Evelyn resulting in her crying (Marshall, 1992). Later, Jimmy approaches Evelyn shaking angrily yet calmly offers constructive criticism resulting in a smile and a nod (Marshall, 1992).
Comments on her physique relate to her race and insinuate “that black women are hyper masculine and unattractive” (Rankine). It can be a difficult moment to endure when people in the same business attack her with comments such as being manly, for example the crude words that president of the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarpischev, had to say about her. Fortunately, Serena was brought up learning techniques on how to handle these vulgar statements. The article describes her childhood, as she practices tennis and how her father would recruit children to “‘call them every curse word in the English language, including ‘Nigger’” (Rankine). It’s safe to say that children who are not black did not have to endure these degrading moments. Although the technique Serena’s father employed to train his children was harsh, it molded her to have a strong character and not let comments like these have a negative effect on
“The past three decades have witnessed a steady growth in women's sports programs in America along with a remarkable increase in the number of women athletes (Daniel Frankl 2)” From an early age women were thought to be “Lady Like”; they are told not to get all sweaty and dirty. Over 200 years since Maud Watson stepped on the tennis courts of Wimbledon (Sports Media Digest 3); women now compete in all types and levels of sports from softball to National racing. Soccer fans saw Mia Hamm become the face of women’s soccer around the world, Venus and Serena Williams are two of the most popular figures in tennis, and Indy car racing had their first woman racer, Danika Patrick. With all the fame generated by these women in their respective sports, they still don’t receive the same compensation as the men in their respective sports fields.
A young African-American boy walks onto some rundown tennis courts at a local park with his father in Richmond, VA. Armed with an old wooden racket and a can of white tennis balls, his father begins to feed him some different shots and tells his son everything he knows about tennis. Being an African-American, this young boy did not have many friends that were as interested in tennis as he was. Since tennis is a predominantly white sport, Arthur Ashe’s desire to play was not encouraged by either race, but instead of giving up on the sport he loved, he continued playing to the dismay of many. Little did Ashe know, however, that his persistence would change the game forever. His efforts opened doors for many of the popular African-American tennis players, such as Serena and Venus Williams, MaliVai Washington, and Bryan Shelton. The class that he brought to the game of tennis and the bravery he showed by changing a sport dominated by whites made Arthur Ashe a legend in his own time.
The sports culture produces some of the most revered and idolized figures in American society. Athletic achievements are glorified and the achievers are often elevated to an extraordinary, super-human status. The rewards, praise, honor, power, and privilege that come from exhibited athletic talent and ability can be enticing as well as addicting. Heroes emerge in our society when a line is crossed in record time, an unfathomable amount of points are scored, or beautifully placed, even lucky shots result in game-winning goals. For many athletes their sport defines them. They have participated in a sport their entire lives, modeled the moves and strategies of their predecessors in practice after practice, devoted to becoming the star that they dream of. For many young boys especially, sports are a way to gain acceptance within a peer group, identify with the male sex, and establish relationships. It is a context wherein boys learn how to be boys, to be masculine, to achieve status within our success-driven culture (Messner, 1).
Through the evolution of associations and legislation, the restrictions of women’s athletics lifted and created equality in athletics between the sexes. In addition, Dr Ruth H. Alexander, Weiss, and Lawler are responsible for the establishment and success of Lady Gator athletics, specifically volleyball. Marilyn McReavy, with a career of 156-100 at UF, and Mary Wise whose reign includes 58 straight home wins lead Lady Gator’s volleyball to a prominent standing not only in the SEC, but also in the nation.
Gender in sports has been a controversial issue ever since sports were invented. In the early years, sports were played only by the men, and the women were to sit on the sidelines and watch. This was another area of life exemplifying the sexism of people in which women were not allowed to do something that men could. However, over the last century in particular, things have begun to change.
The first perspective is that women are disadvantaged at any sport. Some people reiterate the difference of men and women in sports. This is influenced by strength and the natural power men hold, comparable to women. Rodriguez questions “Is this because female athletes don’t have what it takes to make it in the world of sports or could it be more of a social issue?” This perspective seems to be a social issue based on the notable skills women acquire vs. the apparent judgments of gender issues. The second perspective is the idea that women deserve and inherently earn their right of equal attention and equal pay. “Sometimes, the secret to equality is not positive discrimination, it 's equal terms. It 's the shrug of the shoulders that says "what 's the difference?" The moment worth aspiring for is not seeing people celebrate the world-class female cricketer who competes at comparatively low-level male professional cricket, but the day when people are aware that she does, and don 't find it notable at all” (Lawson). Lawson makes it a point to confirm the biased notions against women in sports and relay an alternative worth working toward and fighting for. Both outlooks can be biased but only one has factual evidence to back it up. The second perspective reviews an ongoing gender issue. This problem is welcome for change depending on society’s
...ing on strong: Gender and sexuality in twentieth-century women's sport. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Whether its baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, or tennis, sports is seen all over the world as a representation of one’s pride for their city, country, and even continent. Sports is something that is valued world-wide which has the ability to bring communities together and create different meanings, beliefs and practices between individuals. Although many people may perceive sports to have a significant meaning within our lives, it can also have the ability to separate people through gender inequalities which can also be represented negatively throughout the media. This essay will attempt to prove how gender is constructed in the sports culture while focusing on female athletes and their acceptance in today’s society.