Celebrating Women in Sports
Before the year 1920, the thought of any woman competing in the Olympics would be considered delusional. Women in sports were practically unheard of at this time. It wasn’t until 1932 that black women were given the opportunity to compete in the Olympics. Now, we have a whole day to appreciate the women who compete in sports all around the country today. February 3rd is now known as National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
This year marked the 35th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). On this day, women and girl athletes are celebrated, whether they are champions, coaches, athletes, or even lawmakers making sports accessible for women. Not only does it celebrate those currently in sports, but also those that will be in sports in the future. NGWSD encourages female athletes all over the country to join sports.
Throughout the nineteenth century, Americans believed that women must be modest in order to be functioning members of society.
This led to their inability to participate in sports and other physical activities. Going even deeper into the reasoning behind this, doctors often declared that a woman’s only purpose was reproduction. They believed that physical activity would cause infertility.
There are many names in sports that are often unspoken solely because women in sports are heavily overlooked. Wilma Rudolph, for example, was sixteen-years-old when she competed in the 1956 Melborne Olympics.
Jackie Mitchell was the first woman to play Minor League Baseball in 1931. Now, we have women such as Simone Biles, Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, and so many others who now have the opportunity to compete and inspire, because of all of the great women that came before them.
The road for women in sports has been a long one, there is no doubt about it. While there is still a way to go to achieve complete gender equality in athletics. So, set your calendars for February 3rd, 2022 for the 2022 National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and celebrate those who have given others the opportunity to do what they love.