Attitudes Toward Professional Women Tennis Players

The Professionalisation of Women’s Sport draws upon the expertise of a range of scholars from the fields of sport sociology, sport history, sport economics to critically discuss the complex and often fragmented histories of women’s involvement in professional sport.

Barriers have existed to deny people the chance to compete athletically based on their race, ethnic background, or sex. Some athletes, through their courage and class, have broken down the barriers that have afflicted our society, and sometimes affected greater social change. Billie Jean King changed attitudes toward women and sports with one gigantic victory, fought for equal tournament purses for female tennis players, and started a foundation that promoted athletic opportunities for women.

Analyzing the key players and political moments in women’s professional tennis since 1968, this book explores the historical lineage of social activism within women’s tennis and the issues, expressions, risks, and effects associated with each cohort of players. Drawing on original qualitative research, including interviews with former players, the book examines tennis’s position in debates around gender, sexuality, race, and equal pay. It looks at how the actions and choices of the pioneering activist players were simultaneously shaped by, and had a part in shaping, larger social movements committed to challenging the status quo and working towards increased economic equality for women. Taking an intersectional approach, the book assesses the significance of players from Althea Gibson and Martina Navratilova to Venus and Serena Williams, illuminating our understanding of the relationship between sport, social justice, and wider society. This is important reading for researchers and students working in sport studies, sociology, women’s studies, and political science, as well as anybody with an interest in social activism and social movements. It is also a fascinating read for the general tennis fan.

It’s hard to believe, but there was a time not long ago when girls and women were discouraged from participating in sports. Thanks to the women who ignored society’s rules and also to a piece of legislation called Title IX, girls in the United States—and around the world—began flocking to tracks, fields, and courts to enjoy all the benefits that come from playing a sport. This book celebrates women athletes through the ages, from early Olympians to present powerhouses like Serena Williams and Missy Franklin. Also included are chapter notes, a glossary, a further reading section containing books and websites, and an index.

A richly illustrated and inspiring book highlighting the achievements and stories of fifty notable women athletes from the 1800s to today, by the New York Times bestselling author of Women in Science. “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 Women for the win! The fifty illustrated profiles in Women in Sports feature trailblazers, Olympians, and record-breaking female athletes in more than forty sports, including well-known figures like tennis player Billie Jean King and gymnast Simone Biles, as well as lesser-known champions like Toni Stone, the first woman to play baseball in a professional men’s league, and skateboarding pioneer Patti McGee. Women in Sports also contains infographics on topics that sporty women want to know about, such as muscle anatomy, a timeline of women’s participation in sports, pay and media statistics for female athletes, and influential women’s teams. This beautiful and inspiring book celebrates the success of the tough, bold, and fearless women who paved the way for today’s athletes.

Nonfiction films about sports have been around for decades, but the previously neglected subgenre of the documentary has become increasingly popular in the last several years. Despite such recent successes as Senna, Undefeated, and ESPN's 30 for 30 series, however, few scholarly articles have been published on these works. In Gender and Genre in Sports Documentaries, editors Zachary Ingle and David M. Sutera have assembled essays that examine the various aspects of this art form. Some address questions of gender and sexuality, specifically how masculinity and homosexuality are represented in sports documentaries. Others focus on the characteristics of these films, exploring aspects of aesthetics and narrative. In addition to chapters on basketball, football, baseball, boxing, tennis, and auto racing, this collection features marginalized sports like quad rugby, pro wrestling, live action role playing (LARPing), and bodybuilding. Some of the films described will be familiar to readers, such as Murderball and Bigger Stronger Faster; others are less well-known yet important works worthy of scrutiny. Questions about gender, sexuality, and masculinity remain hot topics in sports discourse and this collection tackles those subjects, making Gender and Genre in Sports Documentaries an intriguing read for scholars, students, and the general public alike.

This book is about flourishing of life in the field of sports. It contains the latest concepts about psychological well-being, from the perspectives of positive psychology. Unlike most of the psychological books about sports, which usually focus on achieving sporting success and excellence, this book emphasises how athletes can draw on their strengths to become flourished whole persons. Fascinating stories of a respectable sporting role model, Roger Federer, will be told. If you are an athlete or a sports fan, you will find this book very easy and interesting to follow. Even if you are not, you will find the book useful as long as you are a pursuer of happiness and a quality life. In this book, I encourage you to look for some valuable ideas that may help you enhance your psychological well-being. My hope is that reading this book will be an initial step leading you to a life-long journey of pursuing a flourished life of your own.