Until the end of the 19th century, when Dallas was rapidly developing, the life of the local women remained on pause. Society’s prejudices limited their participation in many spheres of life. Their initiatives and achievements remained unnoticed. Women could not influence politics, education and even sports. The latter caused the greatest indignation because physical exertion affected health. Thus, it should be present in everyone’s life. Read more on i-dallas.
The launch of women’s sports in Dallas
The history of women’s sports in Dallas began in the late 1800s. Then, regular physical activity among the local women was beginning to gain popularity. These events were directly related to the changes regarding women’s suffrage, the issues of which were raised during the Texas Constitutional Convention in 1868-1869. In 1893, the Texas Equal Rights Association was founded in Dallas. It also contributed to increasing the opportunities for women to do sports.
At the initial stages, women of all ages could engage in their favorite sports exclusively as a hobby. The following sports were available to them:
- basketball
- gymnastics
- tennis
- golf.
It is difficult to say how common each of them was. Among the historical sources, one can find a few records about it. However, the situation has changed significantly since the first educational institutions were opened in the city. There, sports competitions were held with the participation of girls and women.
St. Mary’s College was one of the first educational institutions in Dallas where women had the opportunity to obtain a higher education and take an active part in sports life. It was opened in 1889. Here, women were finally able to get closer to an educated and socially active life.
Difficulties faced by Dallas women who wanted to do sports
In the late 1800s, Dallas women eager to lead an active lifestyle faced many obstacles, including discrimination and social stereotypes.
One of the biggest obstacles was the belief that regular physical activity negatively affects women’s reproductive health. It is hard to imagine, but a similar opinion was typical of many doctors of that time. This was believed not only in Dallas but also in many other American cities.
Public opinion significantly increased the pressure on women. Narratives that sport destroys femininity were spread in society. A true representative of the fairer sex should devote herself to housekeeping and motherhood and by no means sweat during training. These social stereotypes were especially acute for women who wanted to engage in more physically active sports, such as running or basketball.
The difficulties for women did not end even when their activity in sports began to gradually develop in the early 1900s. Firstly, women who had a natural flair for certain types of sports could not move forward. Only rich women were admitted to most educational institutions and sports clubs. Secondly, women’s sportswear remained under strict control for a long time. It was made modest and inconspicuous, which had nothing to do with comfort. Thirdly, when discrimination against urban women due to gender became a little less, racial discrimination did not at all. African-American and other minority women made up a significant part of Dallas’ population. However, even their number could not affect prejudice due to skin color. These townspeople did not have access to sports grounds and competitions. Later, when they managed to win the right to sports games, they often took place in separate communities, without support from the main sports organizations of the city.
Outstanding female athletes from Dallas
Thanks to titanic efforts, some local women managed to overcome prejudice and reach heights in professional sports. We’ll tell a little about several of them further.
Louise Ritter
Louise Dorothy Ritter was born in Dallas in 1958. She entered the history of the United States of America as a track and field athlete who won the gold medal in the high jump at the 1988 Olympic Games. She received her education at Texas Woman’s University. In 2024, the athlete was inducted into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame and the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame.
Carolyn Bush Roddy
Extremely gifted athlete Carolyn Bush Roddy was born in Kingston. She managed to realize herself in the profession in Dallas. In 1979, Carolyn’s former coach, then working in the Women’s Professional Basketball League, invited her to join the Dallas Diamonds. At that time, she was married. Thus, she accepted the offer after discussing it with her husband. Having secured the support of her loved one, the basketball player moved to the Texas city and began to play at a completely new level. In a fairly short time, the Dallas Diamonds player was started being invited to photo shoots and public appearances. She became the face of several advertising tapes.