Since then, collegiate female sports have come alongway.
(Hello, Brittney Griner and Missy Franklin!)
But that’s not to say there hasn’t been quite a bit of progress.
© Jeff Sipsey 2012
Female athletes already got gamea lot of it.
You just might not be hearing about it.Male teams get more attention.
Its harder for female individuals to make a name for themselves.
Michelle Hutchins | Louisville Athletics
But there are women making huge strides and doing itCandace Parker, for example.
Shes like the woman version of LeBron James.
Its not just abiyt opportunities on the courtits about opportunitieseverywhere.
[Title IX] is absolutely is necessary.
Women work just as hard as men do.
All of those experiences and opportunities, theyre just creating more successful women.
I wasnt on scholarship.
Our coaches asked us if we still wanted Womens before Louisville Basketball on our gear.
We all said, No.
The guys didnt have it on their gear.
Were all playing basketball, man or woman.
So now our gear just says Louisville Basketball.Jude Schimmel
- you could see it through all levelscollege and professional.
But the numbers at the womens sports are increasing; its getting bigger, more popular.
Do I think theyll ever be equal?
To be a student athlete, youve got to be on all the time.
Impressive, right?It takes maturity [to be a student athlete].
Freshman year, youre thrown into it all.
You have to deal with two different worlds.
In the morning I deal with soccer, weights, nutrition, eating.
Then youre sent off to class, and at night you have homework and youre dead tired.
Its a full-time job.
Youre so exhaustedemotionally, mentally and physically.
Youre in college, you want to have fun, and you play a sport.
Sometimes school can be the last priority.
But realizing that its important is a part of growing up.Jude Schimmel
8.
You get to watch and play with the best athletes.
Day.When youre at a D-1 program, youre not getting just anyone off the street.
Youre getting the best talent.
Its amazing to be able to see that.Tory Z., 29, ProducerTennis, Duke University, 2007
10.
We have all these gender norms, and girls arent taught the same lessons.
You know, boys are leaders and spunky; girls are bossy and annoying.
Girls arent taught to compete or be competitive, nor are they praised for excelling.
Girls need to be taught that they can be really, really great at something.
You learn that in athletics.Amanda Hsiung
Image Credits:1.
Abby Dahlkemper: Photo by Jeff Sipsey; 2.
Jude Schimmel: Courtesy of the University of Louisville Athletic Department; 3.
Shannon Gast: Courtesy of the Subject; 4.
Amanda Hsiung: Courtesy of the Subject; 5.
Courtney Ceo: Courtesy of Eric Evans/Oregon Athletics; 6.
Abby Dahlkemper: Courtesy of UCLA Athletics; 7.
Tory Z.: Courtesy of the Subject
