PED-301: American Women in Sports History

Explores the history of women in sports with an emphasis on the important contributions of American women. Examines how the social and cultural evolution of gender roles and stereotypes have influenced women's participation and achievement in sports. Focuses on how race, class, sexual orientation and significant events in history have affected women's sports in America. The course will be taught from a feminist perspective by affirming the basic principle that a society's rights, opportunities, privileges, and responsibilities as they are related to participation in sport should be available to everyone regardless of gender. The course will examine how socially constructed definitions of gender and sexual orientation have led to harmful male and female stereotypes and how they have often contributed to discrimination towards female athletes and hindered the growth of women's sports. Fulfills the general education requirement in diversity. Elective in women's studies program. [ 3 credits ]