Atomic Age and Sports

"Your father got the GI Bill and went to college. I, well, I got your father."

Words that should not be coming out of my mouth in 2025, but did yesterday.

For the last three years I've had the opportunity to return to Westford Academy (MA) and play the role of a 1950s housewife in a former colleague's high school history classroom. Scully laces immersive experiences into his curriculum throughout the school year. This week he has recreated a mid-20th century kitchen and living room, complete with Leave It to Beaver streaming on television.

As a dutiful housewife, I take care of the home, the children (played by the students), and my husband (played by a fake phone call on a rotary phone). I lament to the students how I had also served during World War II, but was not rewarded the same opportunities despite my talents and skillset. My character feels unfulfilled in her life, and sees her children as a vehicle to demonstrate that old academic and athletic prowess.

Of course, there were many women who tended to their family duties and worked outside the home during this era, but I imagine that the stress and expectations were even more daunting than today. Most of the opportunities were not necessarily in high-powered positions or even in industries of their choosing.

Every year that I play this role it gets more fun and challenging as I develop this character and reflect upon how students will interpret my words and action. Are my character's backhanded comments about being the parent who blessed them with height and athletic ability landing the way I want them to? Do they get that my henpecking on their academics reflects the character's own frustrations?

The thing about being a guest in someone else's classroom is that you aren't part of the follow-up discussion. But yesterday, Scully shared with the students that I had left teaching to pursue my passions of education, sport, and gender equity, leading to my PhD and publication of my books. He explained that because of the strides made by girls and women from the Atomic Age, I was encouraged to pursue as much education as I wanted to while continuing to play and coach sports into my 40s.

I watched as many of the girls smiled and sighed in relief. It was visceral. We suddenly had an unspoken bond.

I was also in on the complexity of what it means to be a girl or woman.

In My Research

"This study builds upon previous research on gender role socialization (Theran, 2009) by conceptualizing voice in space and relational contexts through exploration of the use of female athletes’ voices in Ethiopia. The voice construct is unique because it was embedded in a context-specific framework, giving participants opportunity to reflect upon their use of voice in both public and private spaces. U.S.-based research (Harter, et al., 1998) suggests that voice varies depending on social constructs and perceived support for voice, a belief that was re-examined in this Ethiopian-focused study. Research (Harter, et al., 1998; Theran, 2009; Hague, 2017) in both Western and Global South nations address gendered voice in multiple spaces. A self-reporting survey in the U.S. stated that girls’ voice fluctuates depending on environment (Gilligan, 1993), often becoming weaker in public spaces (Harter, et, al., 1998)." - K. Ralls, A MIXED METHODS EXPLORATION OF GIRL ATHLETES’ DEVELOPMENT OF VOICE EMPOWERMENT IN WOLAITA SODDO AND BEKOJI, ETHIOPIA: A THREE ARTICLE DISSERTATION

Take Her Word for It | Voices of Title IX

“Adolescent health risks are shaped by behaviors rooted in gender roles that can be well established in kids by the time they are ten or eleven years old,” said Johns Hopkins researcher Kristin Mmari, an associate professor in the department of public health.

Researchers connected with Blum’s study found many of the adolescent girls in this study felt the innocent freedoms of childhood were over. What does that mean for women? Such harmful stereotypes can push women out of the public eye. Like Lauren described in Chapter 8, adult women who break gender norms often face discrimination and bias. If Blum’s study found girls are taught their most important asset is their body, perhaps they need to see more women athletes pushing their bodies to the limit through sports. - K. Ralls, Take Her Word for It (2022)

Women's Sports History

There's a thing about not meeting your heroes because they'll probably disappoint you.

But sometimes we get lucky.

Billy Jean King grew up idolizing Shirley "Small Fry" Fry, describing her as a role model on and off the court. Born in 1927, Fry played a variety of sports including hockey and baseball, but was shut out of football in junior high because of her gender.

Instead, Fry took a different path, winning singles titles at all four Majors championships in tennis while nabbing the No. 1 ranking in the world in 1956. She won several U.S. junior titles and was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1970.

Fry always downplayed her game, explaining that her real skills were in concentration and running.

I think we'd all be a little better off if?we could stay more focused and hustle after the things in life that bring us joy and satisfaction.

At KR LLC, we believe women athletes are perfectly positioned to be standout leaders.

And if you want to relive a little bit of your glory years, we’re here for that as well!