Houston has long been a well-known center of sports activity. Sports competitions have been held there since the city was founded. However, women have long been excluded from this field. Women activists have always tried to go against this. But men have monopolized sports so much that it was quite difficult to break through the wall of neglect, sexism and prejudice. Nevertheless, women are stubborn, so they managed to break through. Read more on i-houston for more details.
First applications and first official teams
As in all US cities until the mid-20th century, women were assigned purely technical positions in sports, such as assistants, masseuses and those responsible for equipment. Indeed, many girls and women could not agree with this, so in the 1920s, they began to create their own basketball and rugby teams.
These were teams at educational institutions. At first, men, as always, were skeptical and dismissive. When women began to claim their place in the sun in sports more loudly, protests began: they were insulted, in public and with impunity, threatened and barred from official meetings. But the women persevered. Gradually, the stronger half of humanity had to come to terms with this situation and endured the “shameful humiliation” through gritted teeth. Women gradually and methodically took over new sports.
The first major statement in women’s sports in Houston was made by the Scottish Brigade Drill Team of Stephen F. Austin High School in 1937. The team was founded by Beatrice Lytle, who sought not only to create a girls’ group but also to instill in them leadership, responsibility and endurance, as well as the desire to be the best in everything. First of all, the team chose the band’s concept.
Aesthetics was one of the many standards the participants were striving for. They chose a Scottish theme. The team uniforms had the national colors of Scotland and the main attribute was kilts, which the girls officially wore to all matches. In addition, the team’s entrance to the field was accompanied by bagpipe playing.
The first official performance of the Scottish Brigade Drill Team took place on November 11, 1937, during the Armistice Day parade. The team quickly gained popularity due to its spectacular parades and outstanding performances. The girls participated not only in football games but were often invited to other events such as the Houston Livestock show, parades, etc. The members of the sports team pioneered cheerleading performances in Houston. During World War II, the team was most active in supporting the city’s military initiatives. Thus, the obstacles to the promotion of women’s sports in the city were finally removed.
Sabotage and alternative projects
Having accepted the participation of women in Houston’s sports life, discrimination in this area did not stop. But womenfolk could no longer put up with it in silence, but fought against it demonstratively and loudly. The case of 1970, when women created their own league in protest, was indicative. The background to the scandal and the loud slap in the face to men’s sports is as follows.
Women were allowed to participate in a tennis tournament as part of the Pacific Southwest Championship. However, the prize money was divided in a ratio of 8:1. Of course, 8 was supposed to be a prize for men, and only 1 part was for women. In protest, the women created their own tournament, the Houston Women’s Invitation, which was held at the Houston Tennis Club that same year. The idea of this demonstrative withdrawal from the men’s tournament belongs to Gladys Heldman. Her call was answered by 9 women who publicly refused to participate in the tennis championship.
Indeed, the prize money in the newly created tournament was much less than even one part of the Pacific Championship. But in this way, sports women loudly declared that they would not accept such an attitude, and would rather receive less but be equal. In addition, the organizers were able to find sponsors in a short time. The title sponsor was Virginia Slims, which allocated as much as $7,500 in prize money.
The women’s tennis competition was specially scheduled to coincide with the Pacific Southwest Championships. This became a loud scandal in tennis throughout the US, but at the same time, it caused admiration for the girls’ actions and led to the emergence of alternative all-female competitions.
The Title IX law is a turning point for women’s sports in the US
The ban on women’s participation in sports was officially lifted in 1972. This was made possible by the passage of Title IX, which prohibited sex discrimination in any program or activity funded by the federal government. This meant that the female half of the US population had the same rights to participate in all sports programs. This primarily concerned schools and universities. Educational institutions had to provide equal rights to women and men to participate in all sports competitions and programs. Their budgets had to be proportional.
Finally, women gained access to quality sports equipment and training facilities. This, in turn, led to an increase in the number of women involved in sports. As a result, women’s teams began to be created en masse in all schools and universities in Houston. The number of women coaches and administrators in sports has increased significantly. Women have even started to take up leadership positions in the sports industry.
Title IX gave impetus to professional leagues. As an example, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) was born. Women gradually began to conquer all kinds of sports, even those such as wrestling, boxing and auto racing, which were considered to be purely male.
Although discrimination against women in sports has not yet been completely eliminated, the Title IX law has made it possible for women to equalize their sporting opportunities with men. Thus, the adoption of this law became a starting point for equality in sports for all.
Modern realities of women’s sports
As of now, the authorities in Houston are in control, and institutions are creating conditions for the development of women’s sports. Almost every educational institution has representatives in all kinds of sports. Soccer, American football and volleyball are the most actively developed in the city.
Among the most successful women’s teams is the Houston Dash, a professional women’s soccer team. They have been participating in the NWSL for many years in a row. They play their home games at Shell Energy Stadium. The Houston Dash girls not only promote women’s sports but also actively engage in charity and social projects.
Houston Energy is a representative team of women’s American football. The girls play full contact in the Women’s Football Association (WFA). Although the team is quite young, having been founded in 2012, it has already won several high titles, including the National Cup and the UWS Championship. Thanks to their success, the girls have a great deal of support and respect from the people of Houston. Tickets for their matches are sold out months in advance.
LOVB Houston Volleyball is a professional women’s volleyball team. They do not yet have any significant honors, but they are a well-known and beloved team in the city.
As you can see, Houston has deep roots in women’s sports, reflecting the gradual growth of equality and recognition of women’s contribution to the city’s sports culture.
