Women in Professional Athletics: Final Project

Concluding Women in Pro Sports

We have completed our research in Boston. Our group had many eventful and enlightening meetings. From our opening tour at BU with coach Derosher, to lunch with sports caster Chris Collins, to the Bruins game, concluding with an eye-opening meeting with Boston Blade's manager Paul Hendrickson. Throughout the trip our group was left with an overwhelming sense of respect for these individuals who approach their professions with an impressive work ethic. We feel lucky that all of these people took the time to meet with us, because they underscored the work that lies ahead of all female athletes. From our trip, our group became increasingly aware of the lack of publicity for women's professional leagues in the United States and the detrimental effects it has on fledgeling leagues such as the Boston Blade's. We were also able to deduce that the general public's respect for female athletics is significantly decreased due to lack of media coverage. It is now the job of all female athletes to prove to all of the doubting that female's work with extreme intensity equal to men, to achieve high caliber levels of play. Not only was this message proclaimed clearly from the professionals we met with, but also was demonstrated in the random public survey we conducted. As we spoke with people on the subway, in Faniel Hall, and throughout the city of Boston, we discovered that men's athletics are overwhelmingly more preferable to watch. Of course, this is not unexpected, but what we did find surprising were the explanations we received as to why. Interestingly, not everyone was quick to say the watched the men's game "because the men's game is more exciting." Some people spoke about the inaccessibility of viewing women's athletics. This led us to believe that there is hope for cultivating a fan base for women's athletics and increasing respect for female athletes across the nation. In reflection, female athletes should approach the challenge of increasing the popularity of their sports with excitement, because it is an opportunity rather than a burden.

JUA Meeting with Boston Blade's Manager

Our JUA group met with Boston Blade's manager Paul Hendrickson. He answered all of our questions and gave us an idea on how we can give back. We are now in the process of sending a letter to numerous magazines and publications in an attempt to get the Boston Blade's the media attention we feel they deserve.

Women in Pro Sports

Today we met with the General Manager for the Boston Blades, Paul Hendrickson, the Boston Blades is the professional women;s hockey team that plays out of Boston and play in the CWHL (Canadian Women's Hockey League). He gave us a real insight to what was being done in order for the league to be more well-known everywhere. He told us that they were trying every way possible to get people to know that there was a professionals women team. He described the difficulties such as the lack of money, the lack of support, and the general public. With him we discussed ways that we could also help to get the support and to let people know that olympians are still playing. For Mr. Hendrickson he told us that their goal is to provide another chance for women to continue in sports after college and eventually pay them. He also told us that he hopes the the CWHL will keep increasing in fan base, players and teams.

Later on, the group went around subway and interviewed people. We asked them whether or not they watch men or women's sport and why they do. We also asked them how the men's game differs from the women's and what they think should be done in order for the women's sports to grow. Many people said that they watched men's sports because they were a lot faster paced and that the intensity level is a lot higher. Many also said that they would rather watch men's because there was a lot more action.

Women's Inequality in Athletics

Our group is focused on investigating the differences in opportunities for men and women in athletics. Today our group went to Boston University to meet with Coach Deroucher and discuss what resources the college provides the athletics, and also compare resources between men and women. What we found out that the university treats both sides equally yet they can't really compensate for the difference in fan base and public interest in the sport and for that reason their facilities are different. Coach Deroucher emphasized the positive impact that Title 9 had on the university and role in women's athletics. He said that today Boston University has reached higher standard of equality in women's sport because of Title 9. Coach Deroucher had a very good perspective for us, since he coached both mens and women's and gave us an insight to how they were different and similar.

Later on in the day we met with New Hampton Alumni and former Temple Baseball player Chris Collins. Mr. Collins is now a prominent New England sports caster. We used Mr.Collins knowledge to help us understand why women's sport are not as highly televised as mens sports. From what he said we gathered that traditions playa role in fan base and the public is more perceptive to watching mens sports because of the higher intensity level. He left us with a challenge as female athletes to better our own sports by increasing our own intensity through hard work and perseverance.

To finish off the day, the group went to the Bruins vs Devils game. Surprisingly for a Tuesday night the game was packed. We went off with face paint bruins shirts and everyone made it on the jumbotron. The Bruins ended up winning 4-1. The Game was filled with energy and excitement and by the end none of us had any voice left.

Is it equal?

On June 23, 1972, Congress passed Title IX, a ground breaking decision which outlawed discrimination based on sex in any educational program or activity receiving federal funding. Now, in 2011, has this monumental act of congress changed the game for women? Currently, how are women perceived in athletics? Are there physical limitations involved, could we do a better job offering equal opportunities from a developmental perspective, or is it even possible to sustain professional athletics for women? On March 22nd, Erin Moran, Anna Menke, Mariele Chambers, Jenny Currie, Liz Elcock, Taylor Huyck, Katie Koenig, Nicole Magee, and Jackie Mazur will head down to the Sports Hub of the nation to attempt to answer these questions and many more! The visit will include stops to Boston University, the Boston Bruins, and the Boston Blades of the CWHL. Keep following for more updates!