Women in sports : a reference handbook

Providing key data, insights, and ways of thinking about women and sports, this book is an excellent resource for high school and undergraduate students as well as for sport organizations serving girls and women. Women are participating in sports in record numbers, and thanks in part to Title IX and a growing interest in women's sports, they're breaking records and achieving remarkable success in sports in every conceivable manner. However, women still struggle for equitable treatment in a variety of sports and face different obstacles than do their male counterparts. How can these issues be solved? Are women in sports being treated fairly? This book provides a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the state of women's participation in sports by referencing both current events and research. Additionally, it offers a breadth of information pertaining to work in sports made available to girls and women. Key aspects include a detailed history of women in sports since 1900 as well as a discussion of current issues surrounding their participation in high school and college athletics, recreational sports, physical activity, and leadership in sports organizations. In particular, the material not only recounts history and analyzes issues but also presents perspectives as to how and why sports continue to be simultaneously a means of empowerment and a conduit for the marginalization of girls and women. * Provides readers with an overview of how sports came to be associated with men and masculinity * Details the various ways in which girls and women experience tension in sports regarding their bodies * Suggests multiple approaches for making women's experience of sports and physical activity more positive and healthy * Provides significant data relating to the growth of girls' and women's participation in sports and physical activity * Offers insights into the ways in which sports both empower and marginalize girls and women in the Perspectives chapter * Suggests policies for and approaches to fostering inclusive sport for all genders… (more)