Obstacles to be Overcome By Women in Sport

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 19, 23 January 1937, Page 15 (Supplement)

Obstacles to be Overcome By Women in Sport

RECOGNITION OF THEIR CLAIMS Although 1936 has seen a great development in all women’s sport, women’s emancipation in sport is not fully accomplished. Part of the struggle is behind them, but there remain many obstacles to be overcome before their just claims are fully recognised, writes the London representative of the Sydney Morning Herald. It is imagine a men’s team of even an unspectacular game such as bowls setting forth for an international tournament only partly organised, with little financial backing, and with no training, “just young and. willing,” and despite these handicaps returning with an unbroken record, and nothing said! This is what the English women’s hockey team did when it went to America for the recent international tournament. The men would not do this, for exactly similar circumstances would not occur. In the first place, the men would have had plenty of backing before they made their departure, and any amount of justifiable publicity given to their victory. (In bowls, let it be remarked in passing, men still refuse adn/ittance to women to their greens. Their attitude seems to be, “let the women break their necks at icehockey if they want to, but bowls is a man’s gamel”) Despite active opposition and apathy, women’s standard in practically every sport in which they take part is quite high. It is extemely good if considered in relation to the marked antipathy toward women which has had to be broken down; it is not so. good when compared with international standards. Athletics is a typical case in point. The whole organisation-of the Women’s Amateur Athletic Association, from Mrs Muriel Cornell downwards, works in an honorary capacity. It depends for its finance on the shillings and pence raised by its own unaided efforts; if§ members are trained on tracks that are sometimes not worthy of tho name, by coaches who are honorary. Many and many a time it has had to refuse* to send athletes to some international event or to some meeting overseas (than which there is no better experience) simply from lack of funds. In Germany, America, Japan and many European countries, no such conditions exist. The local or national authorities take sport as a serious part of their responsibilities. Good tracks are plentiful, paid coaches supplied; men and women, even every member of a family train together. Funds are not lacking, coordination with schools is highly efficient, and boys and girls leaving school carry on their sporting activities without a complete upheaval in method.

English women’s cricket is in a similar position to athletics. As an honorary association, the energy, thought and organisation necessary to raise sufficient funds to make the Australian visit successful has been tremendous. Would it uot bo more advantageous for the players if that energy and enthusiasm werfe expended on the game itsef? Every hour spent in raising money means an hour lost in training or some activity closer related to the playing field than is the bank account. Given proper financial assistance, such marvellous self sacrifice and spirit would be directed fully to the sport, to the physical advantage of thousands of English girls. Golf is one of the exceptions. Women figure conspicuously in all avenues of the game, although, of course, men still predominate. Women golfers, therefore, are not faced with the same difficulties experienced by their sisters in other sports. If English women are to bring back their share of medals from the Olympic Games at Tokio there must first be a new interest taken in girls’ sport by local authorities and qualified teachers and proper playing fields provided for the schools; there must bo Much more joint activity between men and women, and, lastly a better understanding of international requirements.