Women and Sports

Starred review from April 1, 2019
Grades 8-11 *Starred Review* In engaging, matter-of-fact language, this entry in the Women in Society series (6 titles) offers a comprehensive and wide-ranging perspective on women in sports. Going well beyond the history of Title IX and individual athletes, the book covers gaps in wages, sponsorships, and prize winnings; inequality in media coverage, including the dearth of women in sports journalism; how objectification and expectations of femininity often beleaguer talented professional athletes in spite of their accomplishments; the discrimination inherent in gender testing, which prevents a broad range of women from being allowed to participate in sports; and many other topics. Buckey makes a very persuasive case that the issue is much bigger than merely getting more women and girls on the field; rather, there's a pervasive attitude reinforcing the stereotype that only men are interested in sports. Photos of athletes in action, quotes from female athletes and sports professionals, and inset boxes focusing on specific topics break up the engaging text, and ample source notes and further reading nicely back up the author's argument. An illuminating take on a high-interest topic.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)