Pursuing excellence in sport discriminates against women. Alongside the primary texts of the glories of excellence runs a subtext of inequality and discrimination. The paper traces the idea of sport as a quest for excellence through various interpretations of the meaning of sport, discussing excellence as a socially constructed concept. (SM)

A court decision rejecting the charge of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (A.I.A.W.) that the National Collegiate Athletics Association forced it out of operation by engaging in anticompetitive actions to induce members to leave the A.I.A.W. is discussed, including excerpts of the court's opinion. (MSE)

Introduces theme issue of this journal on the psychosocial influences on girls and women in sport and physical activity, focusing on the work of Dorothy V. Harris who battled for equal sporting opportunities and benefits for females. The papers are written from a feminist perspective. (SM)

Considers constructs and operation of homophobic discourse surrounding female athletes, employing Foucauldian notions of discipline and discourse and feminist critiques of the gendered body to depict female athletes as nonconformist to the discipline of femininity. The paper argues that homophobic discourse exists in response to this nonconformity…

The Victorian concept that women would sacrifice their femininity by participating in vigorous sports has to some extent been ameliorated, but vestiges of the bias remain today. This attitude was not based on hostility toward women but on overprotectiveness and concern for imagined dangers for the health of women, whose prime function in society…

While contemporary society struggles with redefining the role of women, college women in sports are learning the same social lesson from sports that men have learned for years (aggressiveness, cooperation, and the ability to take both physical and emotional hardship and recover). (MLW)

The purpose of this study was to assemble a profile of the status of women in four countries, including their accomplishments in international sports events. The status of women within a country must be defined and understood before equivalence in sport opportunities for males and females can be comprehended. The first hypothesis was that a lack…

Sport values follow societal values, and, in American society, it is evident that men have determined the social, political, and economic values upon which this country has established its laws. An overview of the social influence of men in comparison to that of women in the development of American society points out how men and women have assumed…

Describes early experiences of women in athletic training, noting barriers they have confronted in the work environment, progress they have made in athletic training since the implementation of Title IX, and issues that have yet to be addressed to confront the covert discriminatory practices that continue to leave women isolated. (SM)

Addresses psychological issues of elite female athletes preparing for Olympic competition. Perpetual social and gender role issues make women more receptive to psychological services. As women enter their final preparations for the Olympic Games, sport psychology is held to be of critical importance to help them with performance enhancement and…

The implementation of Title IX legislation has created opportunities for leadership positions in girls' and women's athletics. Administrative positions have been created for women to provide specific direction to new programs. Many women placed in leadership positions have had little previous administrative experience. (JN)

Discusses what has happened to women in athletic administration since Title IX. Administrators from various competitive athletic levels respond to questions about the advantages and disadvantages of Title IX relative to their athletic administration. (SM)

This paper examines the development of women's sports during the first three decades of the 20th century and compares it with the development of the women's movement during the same period. In so doing, the paper focuses on the views of female physical educators and female athletes and on their participation in sport. These views and the…

An examination of collegiate athletics suggests that the present financial structure assures that the rich get richer; that the present governing structure separating men's and women's programs will not serve the long-term interests of either group; and that the financial structure for big-time programs precludes wider student participation. (JMD)

Cites the decreased participation rates of women in sports as they age. Contends that sports historians, by focusing on women and sports, can dispel myths about the subject and provide women with positive role models. Provides informational sources for women in sports and discusses notable Canadian female athletes in history. (RW)