Monday, September 23, 2013
Brett Bardwell: Battle of the Sexes
I found a lot of things interesting in our discussion about the Battle of the Sexes in class on Thursday. Obviously, it was a huge moment for the progression of women's sports. This match was extremely helpful in gaining respect for the women's game. One thing that I do not think is fair and is kind of blown out of proportion in this case is the notion that because Billie Jean King won that women could compete with men. I am not saying that they cannot, but to draw that conclusion from a match between the number two women's player in the world against an out of shape 55 year old man is ridiculous to me. What is amazing, though, is how the outcome of the match changed the sports landscape for women. It is very interesting to think about where women's sports would be today if the outcome had gone in favor of Bobby Riggs, or if the match had gone longer. Would things be drastically different or not that much different at all? Would there not have been some other event that would have changed the views on women's sports if Billie Jean King had lost? Would women's sports have completely gone away? I personally feel that someone someday would have accomplished the same things Billie Jean did. One last thought is the effect on society. Would society still have graduated to a more progressive mindset over time or was it events like these that transformed the mindset to what it is today? I feel that this stuff is very interesting, and that is obviously why the event is so talked about to this day.
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Brett,
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that events such as these did have an impact on how peoples mindsets have changed over time. I also believe that if this outcome had been different that there would have eventually been something similar that would have started to make people view it differently as well. The biggest thing is that it may have taken a lot longer to establish that mindset if the match had a different outcome. I think that the changes would have eventually come, however, we do not know where we would be right now had it taken more time to start changing the way that people think. I also want to agree with what you said about how the match may have been received more strongly than it had let on. It really is interesting to think where we would be right now currently if this had not have happened when it did.
-Chris Lang
Brett,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you when you said that Billy Jean King completely opened the door for women sports because she beat a 55 year old out of shape Bobby Riggs. I think this was a stepping stone for female athletes in getting the right to play sports, and that they could compete with men. The only way I would say that women would be able to compete with men in tennis is if Serena Williams beat one of the top three men's tennis players in the world in a five set match. I think that at that point we would have no argument but for King to beat Riggs at his age was impressive but I do not think it should have justified them being able to compete with men. In answer to your question about things being different for women, I do not think they would be different today because I feel that another women would have eventually beat a male in tennis or another sport such as golf. I think that we still have a ways to go before women are completely respected in athletics because we see the WNBA and other women's professional leagues struggle to put fans in the stands in just about everything but tennis and golf.
- Brandon Focht