"MAJOR REVOLUTION"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 3, 5 January 1939, Page 14

"MAJOR REVOLUTION"

SENORITA'S EMANCIPATION

INFLUENCE OF THE CINEMA

A major revolution is taking place in South America, but no one seems to be taking any notice of it. Sport is emancipating the senpritas, states a writer "in the "Cape Times."

Already it has taken them out of the cloistered life imposed on them for generations by customs imported from mediaeval Spain. Their new freedom is more social than political, but it is a real start.

Two hundred and fifty girls from Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, Porto Rico, Jamaica, and Panama took part in the fourth Olympic Games of Central America, recently held in Panama.

A prime cause of the revolution is the strong influence of cinema newsreels showing British and American women taking part in athletic contests. Another factor is the increasing number of Latin-American girls who attend schools in the United States.. BATHING IN 1926. The revolution is of recent" origin. In 1926 a senorita was expected to wear a "Mother Hubbard" costume if she wished to bathe in the sea. Women were not permitted to use the divingboards or piers at exclusive swimming resorts. Today, Latin-American women wear the briefest of swim-suits, and they can bathe anywhere. Sport -has given the senorita much more personal freedom. Fifteen years ago a young woman of the "altas familias" rarely appeared in public without a duenna.

If she did, it was necessary for her to walk swiftly, glancing to neither right nor left. Any appearance of sauntering would be sure to bring a "masher" to her side. And no matter how swiftly she walked, she could not escape hearing male comments on her appearance.

Buenos Aires tried to give women a little freedom by fining "mashers" 50 pesos for each offence, but sport has been more effective than laws. There are so many unchaperoned women about these days that they attract little attention.

■" Class lines have been broken down and more democratic associations are resulting. Skill at sport is the essential factor. .'.'...•

, Sport lias-given the senorita a chance of-emancipation and she is grasping it with both hands.

CHAMPION SWIMMER

NEW ZEALAND HOLIDAY

The well-known swimmer, Miss Ena Stockley, who resides in Sydney, is at present visiting her family in Auckland and will return next Tuesday, states the "New" Zealand Herald." Miss Stockley was 100 yards lady freestyle champion of New Zealand from 1925 to 1929, and backstroke champion in 1928. She was Australian champion in 1926; and 1928. In the latter year she represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games in Amsterdam. She held: the Ntew South Wales sprint championship in 1933. .Her New Zealand 're-cords for 50 yards and 100 metres freestyle and 100 metres backstroke; established in 1929, are still unbeaten. In recent years.Miss,Stockley has gained a good measure of success as a golfer in club tournaments in Sydney.