The Winter Olympics were recently contested in Italy. As a fan of sport, I enjoy watching them and continue to marvel at the prowess of the athletes. And always, I think back to the early 1970s when women’s sports were finally given permission to “let the girls play.”
Title IX, passed in 1972, encompassed protections designed to improve the rights of women and to combat discrimination. It was only eight years since the Civil Rights Act was passed. Bottom line, because I’m no expert, is women’s athletics began to get their due.
Prior to this time, women were allowed access to very few competitive sports. Also, due to our “delicate” natures, women’s sports often had separate rules designed to protect our frail constitutions. Rubbish! As a high school student, it was hard to comprehend that as recently as the late 1960s women were relegated to playing six-on-six basketball. The rules were specific and strict. There were restrictions on dribbling, passing, movement on the court, etc.
Despite it all, women were playing collegiate basketball as early as 1899. High school basketball has long been popular for women and has been contested since the early 1900s. But I’m not here to spout loads of history. I’m here to celebrate the evolution of sport for women.
I never thought I’d see all-girl wrestling teams in my lifetime. The trailblazers endured through playing on boys teams and now interest has grown to the extent that many areas throughout our country have dedicated female wrestling teams. And golf teams. And swimming teams.
Does it stir an “if only” feeling in me? It used to do so. Now I’m mature enough to revel in its excitement and to watch girls achieve what was never allowed for them. In the words of the Virginia Slims ads from the 1960s, “[we’ve] come a long way, baby.”
Stories Are For Eternity 