Women, Sports and the Movies

Movies have always reflected and influenced public attitudes to the cultural landscape of society. Women in movies, and in sport movies in particular have mirrored the status they held in both political and societal conceptions of their position in society. The story of women in the 20th century and their journey for equal rights with men can be traced within their representation in sport movies from the silent era on. 

Sports movies in the early 20th century almost without exception had a male protagonist. Women were depicted either as love interest or victim, relying on men to give their life meaning and purpose. 

In Chaplin’s The Champion (1915), where women still did not have the right to vote in America, to The Hustler in (1961), the women are solely depicted as someone for the male star to love or try to save. The 1960’s began the change with the women’s liberations movement successfully altering attitudes and their involvement in sports movies began to evolve.

The first meaningful role for a woman in a sports movie was in Venus of the Seas (1924) where swimmer Annette Kellerman Inherits a south seas pearl business from her father and fights to stop a greedy ship captain form stealing her livlihood. Another movie was National velvet (1944), starring a young Elizabeth Taylor. The Story of a young girl who hides her identity to win the male dominated grand national as a jockey is an inspirational fable for women. 

In between these two movies was Olympia (1938), which was a documentary of the 1936 Berlin Olympics and was directed by the controversial woman Leni Rietenstahl. Although a ground breaking moment in factual sports movie making the director has been questioned morally and ethically due to her propaganda work for the Nazi regime. 

In the 1950’s women in sports were mainly represented by Esther Williams and her swimming movies such as Neptune’s Daughter (1949), Bathing Beauty (1944) and Million Dollar Mermaid (1952). Although the movies are essentially frivolous the real life American swimming champion’s films were hugely successful and Williams became one of the most popular stars of her era.

As the women’s liberation moved forward in the 1960’s and gained traction in the 1970’s, sport movies featuring female protagonists mirrored this evolution. See How She Runs (1978) stars Joanne Woodward as a 40 year old schoolteacher who turns to long distance running to try to piece her life back together. Closing the 1970’s is Champions: A love story (1979), that tells the story of two women figure skaters who’s passion for their sport is only surpassed by their love for each other. 

In the 1980’s the film Personal Best (1982), stands out as a movie about the women’s US track team. It offers an in depth look at the world of women’s sport as well as telling the moving love story between two girls training together to make the national team. Wildcats (1986), has Goldie Hawn playing an American football coach who takes over a male inner-city high school team, leading them to success. The movie is inspirational for women especially as she wins coaching a male team, showing that women are just as capable as men. 

From 1990’s onwards there has been an explosion in women’s sport movies and documentaries celebrating their sporting prowess. With the rise of streaming platforms this has expanded even further with a wide range of content including dramas and reality shows. Helping this is the fact that women’s elite sport has gained huge exposure and investment and is enjoyed by people of all sexes. Women’s sport participation has also increased, and the movie world has responded to these realties by producing entertainment to feed the growing interest. 

Here are some of my favourites: 

A League of their Own: (1992) is a fictional story about real-life All-American girls’ professional basketball league, which began during WW2 as a way of keeping interest in the game while men were away fighting. How they overcome prejudice, bond as teammates, and develop personal pride and find their identity is depicted beautifully. It’s also very funny.

Whip It: (2009) is a coming of age story with Bliss Cavendar played by Elliot Page finding herself through the high contact sport of the roller derby. The film shows how women can enjoy visceral sport as much as men and showcases how sport can help people find fulfilment.

Blue Crush (2002) stars Kate Boswooth as a cleaner of a hotel room and avid surfer. With two friends, Kate dreams of surfing Hawaii’s dangerous North Shore and their journey to realise their dreams well told and the surf action is kinetically shot.

The comedy drama Bend it like Beckham (2002) has many important themes running through it. In it an Indian girl, restricted by her parents takes up football and eventually joins a female semi-professional team and ultimately leaves home to play for an American university. The movie explores second generation immigrent integration problems, racism and sexism in a sensitive and humorous way, as well as the joy of playing football. 

Athlete A (2020) is a documentary about the sexual abuse of female gymnastics in the USAG by team doctor Larry Nassar. This is essential viewing because it shows how systemic abuse of women and girls still happens and that society should always be alert to it, wherever it raises its head. The gymnasts testimony is brave and powerful leading to the conviction and imprisonment of Nassar. 

These are some examples of recent movies featuring women, but there are many other to check out. Women in sports movies have come a along way from its beginnings of them being largely decorative, to now being an important part of the sports movie genre. As women increase their fight for equality in society the movies will reflect their gains, and setbacks, entertaining, informing and changing public opinion. 

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