In the early summer of 1972 President Nixon signed into law a piece of legislation that changed the way America plays sports. It is one of the most socially impacting pieces of legislation in modern history, transforming the lives of millions of women, empowering over 900% more girls to participate in High School sports and over 450% more women to participate in College athletics between 1971 and 2006.
Title IX changed not only who has opportunity to participate in athletics, but even how we view the place of women in a broader way. But, not all the progress towards equality has been easy, and it has presented professional female athletes with difficult choices about how they want their celebrity used in ways that men rarely have to consider.
We look at the history of female athletics with Allen Guttmann, retied professor of American Studies at Amherst College; at how sexuality influences female sports with Rachel Grady, an Oscar and Emmy nominated film maker and Co-Director of Branded; and explore how the female athletes of tomorrow are being trained with Megan Smith, head couch of the KU softball team and Mallory Cage of WIN For KC.
Guests:
Megan Smith | Head Softball coach for KU
Rachel Grady | Oscar and Emmy nominated film maker, Co-Director of Branded
Dr. Allen Guttmann | Retired Professor of American Studies at Amherst College
Mallory Cage | WIN For KC
