Women In Sports
PE 106
I. Catalog description
A. This course provides students with a chronological history, analysis and interpretation of people, events and issues affecting women in sports, in past and present societies. Physiological, sociological and psychological aspects of female athletes as related to sport, history and education will be covered. Students will gain an understanding of the significant events of women in athletics from the past to the present and how their significance will determine the future of women in sports.
B. Class hours: 3 lecture
Units: 3
C. Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
D. Recommendation: None
II. Text and other instructional materials
A. Required texts
Smith, Lissa (Ed.) Nike is a Goddess. New York: Atlantic monthly
Press. 1998.
B. References
Oglesby, Carole A (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Women in Sport in America. 1998.
Costa, D. Margaret, PhD. Women and Sport: Interdisciplinary Perspectives.
Henderson, Karla A. Both Gains and Gaps: Perspectives on Women’s Leisure. University of North Carolina, 1996.
C. Required materials
None
III. Course content
A. Physiological issues
1. Athletic competition and the illustration of the resulting physical stress on the body
2. Self esteem, positive body image and resulting lower levels of depression
3. Use of drugs and alcohol
a. Illegal drugs
b. Legal drug use
4. Life-long physiological aspects of athletic competition and training
B. Sociological issue
1. Balancing families, pregnancy and athletics
2. Gender and sport
3. Economics and sport
4. Stereotypes in society regarding women and sport
5. Influence of the media and advertising
6. Influence of professional sports
7. Society and its influence
8. Culture and its influence
a. Social class associated with specific sports
b. Gender associated with specific sports
c. Ethnicity associated with specific sports
C. Psychological issues
1. Self-esteem and athletics
2. Physical fitness and increased health.
3. Dealing with reality – athletics as a means to education and a future career.
D. Continuing education
1. Advantages of obtaining the bachelor’s degree
2. Life after sport
E. Women in sports careers
1. Coaching
2. Sports writing
3. Media and Broadcasting
4. Promotions
IV. Course objectives
A. Introduce students to the history and impact of Women in athletics / sports.
B. Incite each individual to think critically and analytically about physiological, sociological and psychological issues of women in sports.
C. Develop a positive attitude about female athletes, their stamina and physical abilities.
D. Introduce students to the impact of female athletes and such obstacles as; pregnancy, balancing families and their gender identity.
E. Develop student responsibility
F. Introduce past and present sociological issues as they relate to women athletes in sports and society.
G. Introduce how athletics can be a means to future education and career prospects through scholarships and various funding opportunities
H. Present the possible future for women in sports as related to a career
I. Introduce to students to a life after sports
V. Assignments
A. Reading
1. Selected chapters from the text
2. Selected journal articles from department approved list
3. Current events and / or websites
B. Writing or problem solving or skill attainment
1. Creation of a collaborative Timeline of Events significant to the history of Women in Sports.
2. Research report on a specific historical event
3. Collaborative creation of individual biographies for a virtual museum of the originally created timeline.
C. Critical thinking
1. Analyzing issues facing the female athlete
a. Write several reaction papers on specific historical events
drawn from the timeline
b. Research paper analyzing issues like; balancing families, societal influences, academics and athletics, coping with the pressure of male competition and performance
c. Reaction paper and biography on a specific person or event highlighting their career struggles and successes and the society of the era.
VI. Methods of instruction
A. Lecture on issues surrounding the female athlete
B. Blackboard discussion on the various aspects of each event / issue facing the female athlete
C. Multi-media creations of a class timeline of events that they as a class feel are important to the current day status of women in sports (alternate assignments will be provided for students with disabilities as needed)
D. Website visits and relating questions to be answered and discussed as a class through a Blackboard type of program (alternate assignments will be provided for students with disabilities as needed)
E. Class threaded discussions to present the many aspects of each issue, event and person.
F. Fields trips
G. Videos and/or films
VII. Methods of evaluation
A. Participation in class discussions and/or other activities
B. Creation of a class Timeline of events that are significant to the history, present and future of women in sports.
C. Research paper based on a chosen event or person from the class created timeline.
D. Self evaluation of each individual’s perception of his/her experiences, past, present, and future, as related to a female athlete in society
E. Collaborative biographies created on each timeline event that the students choose to represent
F. Creation of a virtual museum based on the research papers and biographies created from the timeline events
G. Written exams
H. Final examination