Battle of the sexes

 

When people hear " Battle of the Sexes," they often think of something different, but it actually refers to a famous tennis match that was between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, both leading tennis players. Billie Jean was 24, and Bobby was in his 50s. Many people thought the match was uneven because of their age difference, but Bobby Riggs was a known hustler and experienced player. Bobby Riggs was sponsored by Sugar Daddy, a popular candy brand at the time. Bobby Riggs wore a sweatsuit with the Sugar Daddy logo during the match. He took the game very casually, and his outfit sponsored by Sugar Daddy suggests that he is similar to Sugar Daddy and that, in this situation, Billie Jean King is just a “dumb girl”. Billie Jean King won the match, which was very controversial for the sports world. Back then, women's sports were not very popular, so having a female defeat a man was huge and upset many people.

Even though the battle of the sexes happened a long time ago, there are still many situations to this day that have been very similar. One example is the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, where debates around media coverage, respect, and equal pay for female athletes echoed the fight for equality that Billie Jean King had stood for during the battle of the sexes. Just like the battle King once fought, where she challenged gender stereotypes. Recently, many female soccer players have begun to push back against discrimination and demand fair treatment both on and off the field. This goes for all sports as well, not just for soccer or tennis.