Women in Sports

INTRODUCTION

The weaker sex! It wasn t the first times those untrue words were said, and it wouldn t be the last. It s what Bobby Riggs, a former tennis champ, said about women in 1973. But tennis player Billie Jean King stood up to this bully. With masterful skill, physical strength, and a sense of self-worth, Billie Jean would change the world with her tennis racket.

Throughout history, women have been stereotyped as weak and routinely excluded from competitions, gyms, teams, and sports clubs. With no arena in which to prove themselves fit and strong, it was hard for women to fight this sexism. Of course, this stereotype has pervaded other segments of society throughout history. Women have been denied educational, civic, business, and leadership opportunities and have had to prove they are just as smart and hardworking as men. Female athletes like Billie Jean have had to fight the most basic stereotype of all: that women s bodies are inherently not as strong or capable as men s. Their progress has been truly inspiring.
During the 1970s, the feminist movement was in full swing in the United States, United Kingdom, and other developed nations. Women were demanding equal pay and equal opportunities. In 1972, the United States passed Title IX as part of the Education Amendments, making it illegal for U.S. schools to discriminate in funding based on gender. For the first time, many schools began funding women s sports programs, and colleges began giving out women s sports scholarships. Finally, women could pursue their athletic passions and show the world their true strength.

The backlash was inevitable. Many still thought women should do only traditional ladylike activities. Tennis player Bobby Riggs wanted to prove that women had no place in sports by beating the best female tennis player, Billie Jean King. In 1973, he challenged her to a battle of the sexes tennis match. At first she declined. But when Bobby beat Grand Slam winner Margaret Court

RACHEL IGNOTOFSKY is a New York Times-bestselling author, illustrator, designer. She graduated from Tyler School of Art's graphic design program and formerly worked as a senior designer and illustrator at Hallmark Greetings. Rachel and her work have been featured in many print and online media outlets such as Babble, the Huffington Post, Scientific American, and Buzzfeed. She is the author of The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth, Women in Science, Women in Sports, and I Love Science.

Praise for the Original Edition of WOMEN IN SPORTS:

"Exhaustive and enlightening don't miss it." Kirkus Reviews

"This is one of the books we've been waiting for a compendium of great women athletes and the struggles they faced." Lesley Visser, Hall of Fame sportscaster

"This luminescent book tells the stories of women and girls who have not only excelled in athletics, but also often changed the world by doing so." Caroline Paul, author of The Gutsy Girl

"Rachel Ignotofsky's delightful book renders the healthy pleasure of sports for girls and women in buoyant color and form." Mina Samuels, author of Run Like a Girl

"What an inspiring book! You'll cheer for these ladies, and for author Rachel Ignotofsky." Lisa Taggart, author of Women Who Win