Women in Sports

Women’s sports have developed from intramural events to professional leagues. During the1960’s, when women's sports were developing, gym teachers we usually responsible for teaching the first women’s sports teams. In these times, women’s sports were classified as intermurals. These teams played other colleges or schools on designated “play days". There were no proper uniforms and most participants wore pinnies. No statistics or records were kept.

There has also been much discrimination towards women's sports. Women were seen as outsiders and intruders. Because of this discrimination, there has been an amendment passed to prohibit this type of discrimination. This amendment is called Title IX. This makes it illegal for any team to be discriminated against based on gender or race.

There have been many instances where the eligabilty of a female has been questioned just because her performance exceeded that of the males involved. Once such instance was the case of Natasha Dennis and some of her female teammates. In 1990, despite the passage of Title IX, nine-year-old Natasha was subjected to humilation due to that fact that she was superiourally skilled in soccer. A father on the opposite team demanded that Natasha and some of her teammates be examined in order to prove that they were in fact females.

There has also been attempts to limit female participation in sports by using supposed scientific facts. Studies would be fabricated that engaging in sports would lead to nervous collapse and sexual impropriety. In addition to this, women and girls would be "persuaded" not to play as well. Many times, female athletes would be ridiculed until they no longer wanted to play. Also, if they continuted to play, they would be forced to wear uniforms that were nothing more than skirts and t shirts. Athletes would also be required to attend charm and beauty classes and keep their hair long.