Billie Jean King Research Paper

Traditionally women were viewed as equipped to participate in sports, and their involvement was viewed as unfeminine and undesirable. This Article Examples the women were viewed as unfeminine to the sports that men play and undesirable. Young girls who are given an early opportunity to participate in sports may be more prepared for the male in classrooms. Even though women have often been relegated to second-hand citizenship in the same socializing, integration, statues, and recognition that benefit male athletes. (By; Sandra L. Hanson)

The author of The Colonel, Michael Hogan, details how a certain Army Colonel influenced his life through the sport of tennis. Hogan begins by indicating how mainstreamed tennis is today, to the point an average adolescent could not imagine tennis as a ‘rich man’ sport. In the fifties, when Hogan was a child, tennis was a sport reserved for mostly men at country clubs and private resorts. Women had competed at international competitions such as Wimbledon for a several years, but many of them were amateurs (oftentimes paid little). Fortunately for female tennis players, Billie Jean King’s assertiveness, in 1967, and the Virginia Slim tournaments, in the seventies, influenced tennis to include women in professional tennis (such as Chris Everts

Althea Gibson (August 25, 1927- September 28, 2003), also known as the tennis Jackie Robinson, was the first African-American woman to not only play amateur tennis but also join the Ladies Professional Golf Association. Althea Gibson was one of the most influential and significant figures in African-American women’s sports history (Douglas). Althea was the figurehead that established that blacks were equal competitors in sports (Gould). On the streets of Harlem, New York City is where Althea got her start; Traveling the globe breaking racial barriers in different countries and winning their tennis tournaments is what Althea did. Although she did not receive any monetary gain from her winnings she did receive many awards and trophies, as well as the meeting of many important individuals.

Throughout Marcenia's childhood, she had always loved baseball more than any other activity (Hubbard 1, 2, 6). Every day at recess she would go over to the baseball field and insist on playing with the boys. One day after school, she got a life changing opportunity to learn how to becoming a real baseball player. This happened when Mr. Gabby Street, a manager for the Saint Louis Cardinals, hosted a free boys’ baseball camp. After tireless hours of practice, Marcenia finally succeeded in her quest to prove to Mr. Street how he should let her participate in his camp. Although she more than displayed her superior abilities, Marcenia’s father still did not approve of her being different than

History has referred to her as "the Jackie Robinson of tennis" for breaking the color barrier. On August 22, 1950, Althea Gibson, an American sportswoman, became the first African-American woman to be a competitor on the world tennis tour. She was the first to win a 'grand slam' title in 1957. She was a pioneer in both amateur tennis and professional golf forging a road for future greats to include Tiger Woods and Venus Williams. She was also the first black woman on the LPGA tour.

“It is different to imagine tennis without Serena Williams who have influenced a generation of female players and left a mark that no sibling in sport’s can equal”. (Glyn Clarke) Her prominence in tennis is growing this includes her impact on inspiring African American tennis players. Before Williams, black athletes faced unique challenges, but Williams helped promote progress , instead of over focusing on the negativity. She is working so that future athletes won't have to face the same inequality . “ Serena has been at or near the top of her sport longer than almost any other athletes. ”(Lindsay Gibbs) Before Serena entered no female had earned over 56 million dollars in prize money . Tennis today is much more depth and quality competition than existed during the 1970s and 1980s. When became the second African American women to claim a Grand Slam title , later becoming a U.S. Open Champion. Before Serena no tennis player brought a mixture of maturity, fashion , business and a foot in the entertainment realm as an actress. Williams had been the likely target for a new generation of record chasers yet to

Billie Jean King, the female tennis player, once said, "Christ, I'm blacker than Arthur

According to Jennie Finch, “The Women’s Sports Foundation, founded in 1974, is the leader in promoting sports, health, and education for girls and women. With Billie Jean King as its founder the foundation continues to have a profound impact on female athletes, from its vigorous advocacy of Title IX legislation to providing grants and scholarships, grassroots programs for girls, and groundbreaking research. Recognized globally for its leadership, and influence, the foundation has relationships with more than 1,000 of the world’s elite female athletes, many of whom attend the organization’s Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards in New York

One of the biggest things that she pushed for in her career was equal pay for men and women in sports. This was a struggle for her as she had trouble paying for her tennis. In the early days of her playing she was not allowed in the picture of her first tennis club because she was not wearing the proper tennis skirt, but instead had on shorts. Her family did not have a lot of extra money to put into her expensive tennis career and it was hard for them to afford the elitists sport. She along with other women had to stand up and risk being band from the tennis league when they signed one dollar contracts with the Virginia Slims to bring attention to the struggle for equal play. It became apparent to Billy even from the young age that she was when she was not allowed in the picture because of her attire that women where not

King proved that women are equally talented as men through the match. The fathers of young girls approach Billie Jean King almost daily to tell her how the Battle of the Sexes changed their lives, and how they raise their children differently because of her role in the match. King continued her fight for equality through creating foundations and organizations that supported the movement for women’s rights in sports. These organizations included the Women’s Sports Foundation, Virginia Slims, the Women’s Only Tournament, and the Women’s Tennis Association.

Similarly, Billie Jean King broke barriers in her sport to change the perception of females in the athletic and professional worlds forever. When King began her tennis career in the early 1960’s, just about nobody paid attention to women’s sports. In 1971, only one percent of collegiate athletic budgets were going to women’s sports and the ratio of male to female high school athletes was 12.5 to 1 (Impact of Title IX). However, King quickly organized a group of female tennis players to travel around the country playing small events, and although they earned little money, it helped to bring attention to the sport and women’s abilities to play. She further put pressure on the United States Tennis Association by demanding more money, events, and

The sports world has been a new area where women are recognized. In previous times women’s sports were almost non-existent. In schools many girl teams did not receive adequate funds for uniforms and equipment. Boys sports were much more popular, such as football or basketball. If a girl wanted to play a guy sport she would be labeled as a

An example of a female athlete being ridiculed for portraying society’s idea of non-femininity is Martina Navratilova. Martina was the first female tennis player who began to play tennis more as a power sport than a sport of technique. Subdued by an oppressive communist system that controlled the Czech Tennis Federation, she was seen to be playing in the style of men instead of playing women's tennis. As she did not fit into society's image of how a woman should look, behave and play tennis, she was ridiculed and branded as the proverbial ‘bad egg’ when compared to her contemporaries. Additionally, she was branded as a lesbian, which caused more hardship for her as she was forced to face a world which was much more homophobic at that time than it is now. Her sexual orientation is not a prime issue; it was something that was used against her and something that was assumed simply because she did not portray the feminine image that is expected of women.

Furthermore, King went on to boycott the difference in pay between male and female athletes in tennis. She was the first female tennis player to win more than $100,000 in a season, yet male players were still making three times this amount . The movement resulted in the first

Furthermore, King went on to boycott the difference in pay between males and females in tennis. She was the first female tennis player to win more than $100,000 in a season, yet male players were still making three times this amount. The movement resulted in the first female tennis tour and the creating of WomenSports Magazine and the Women’s Sports Foundation. After retiring, she continued to advocate for gender equity.