The Legacy of Gender Ideals in America

As women gained social and political liberties - often largely intertwined - in the second-wave Feminism movement, rebuttal subsequently arose as it so commonly does with social upheaval and rebellion. This is a concept we talk about often in class and that Ms. O’Connell illustrated with the growth of women's sports and court cases that furthered equal rights at a time when a male athletic winner would receive $12,500 while a woman $1,500. Female tennis players, including Billie Jean King, created the Virginia Slims tournaments, which promoted adequate payment of female players and the growth of women's professional tennis. A prominent male tennis player, Bobby Riggs, responded to this growth with outspoken views disapproving of the women's movement and female athletes, popularly saying women “belong in the bedroom and the kitchen, in that order.” When he challenged tennis player Margaret Court to a match, his unfortunate win only supported the sexiest ideals of him and many others around America. When he challenged pro tennis player and outspoken advocate for women's equality, Billie Jean King, four months later, she knew the competition would stand as more than just one game but as a representation of all women's athletic ability and the viability of female engagement in sports. Before the match, Riggs said while King was one of the “all-time greats,” she didn’t stand a chance against him; that “women's tennis is so far beneath men’s tennis.” Despite King proving him wrong, this belief that women are fundamentally less and thus deserve less than men was not simply eradicated by one match. Even so, although men and women took an interest in the game for different reasons, King’s astonishing win and the interdisciplinary support for the Battle of the Sexes not only catapulted female athletics into the national spotlight and highlighted pay disparity in career sports but further empowered women to advocate for equal pay throughout the workforce.

When I heard the media’s discussion of Billy Jean King before the match, I thought of how depictions of women compared to men in the media impact and shape the public view, with this contrast continuing today. To more than 30,000 in the stands and 50 million watching on live television, a television commentator and interviewer from ABC said, “if ever [King] took her glasses off and let her hair grow, she might get a Hollywood screen test.” In the 70s, this passed as a compliment, whereas a sports commenter today would be criticized if they said something similar, although similar comments continue to be routine in Hollywood and through other media sources. While the presence and support of women in sports were propelled by the passage of Title IX and the increased presence and visibility around the country for equal opportunities in athletics throughout the 70s, harmful ideas continue to ruminate today. Riggs spoke on knowing that it takes work to change the hearts and minds of people to match the law, alluding to the progress of gender equality and legal inclusion for women through court decisions, many of which we’ve talked about that were principally established on constitutional ideals rather than individual morality, while much of the country still believed women did not deserve equal treatment or opportunities. While overall, this mentality has largely progressed in the years since then, the fundamental institution of gender ideals in American institutions continues to be highlighted in the pay disparity that, while decreased through the efforts of women throughout the years, continues to be encountered today, both in sports and beyond.