Describes the life of "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias from her start as a basketball player and Olympian through her career as a professional golfer. Addresses the difficulties faced by women who are successful in the male arena of athletics. Discusses her struggles against cancer and to be seen by the public as a normal female. (DK)

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)

The demographic results of data collected from 335 collegiate female athletic directors revealed: (1) an increase in the number of coaches for female athletes; (2) a significant decline in the number of female head coaches; and (3) a large increase in the number of male head coaches. (JN)

Reports a study that analyzed high school girls' experiences as they established ice hockey as a competitive girls' sport. Surveys of the social, psychological, and skill aspects of their experiences indicated high enthusiasm and determination levels, with 80% of them definitely planning to continue playing ice hockey. (SM)

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…

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…

This report presents statistical data from a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) study analyzing expenditures for women's and men's athletics programs in response to a resolution submitted by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA). introduction discusses the management of the study and notes that…

Reports a study that compared the newspaper coverage of girls' and boys' high school hockey teams in Minnesota from November 1994 to March 1995. Researchers coded each newspaper article for sex, length, and photo types. Results indicated that boys' high school hockey received much more newspaper coverage than girls' high school hockey. (SM)

National study examined gender trends for two-year college coaches of men's and women's athletics. Questionnaires from 136 athletic administrators indicated declines in the number of female coaches from 1983-90. The small number of female respondents made it difficult to determine relationships between the gender of athletic administrators and…

The relationship between activity and positive self-esteem in girls 9 to 12 years of age was explored in this study. The hypothesis was that the positive relationship between physical activity and positive self-esteem which exists for women also exists for girls. A secondary goal was to gain insight into some of the factors that are associated…

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…

The relationship between activity and positive self-esteem in girls 12 to 17 years of age was explored by this study. The primary goal was to determine if the positive relationship between physical activity and positive self-esteem which exists for women also exists for girls. It was also hoped that insight would be gained regarding the factors…

This study identifies Australian girls' sports participation and variables associated with participation and dropping out. It describes the sporting experiences, and the decisions associated with those experiences, of a group of girls opposing traditional pressures by participating in a "male" sport (soccer). A survey was conducted of…

This study was conducted to investigate factors that might assist in understanding perceptions about women in coaching; contribute to an understanding of the decline of women in coaching; and examine possible differences in the preferences of coaches by players exposed to a gender socialized version of the same game, namely 5- and 6-player…

Historically, women's recreation and leisure programs have been inferior to men's. The article reviews the history of recreation programming for females, examines the effect of contemporary feminism, then discusses current and future inclusive programming. Includes references. (SM)