Sarah Fields, an Ohio State assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology, turned a class research paper into the first book to examine legal issues surrounding women’s participation in male-dominated sports.
“At the time I had no idea it was going to be a book. I was just writing a paper for the class and I aced it,” she said.
Fields’ book, “Female Gladiators,” was originally published in 2005 and was re-released this year in paperback form. The book explores the controversy of female participation in contact sports, an issue that many OSU students have strong opinions about.
Fields argues that women’s access to a sport decreases as the sport’s significance in American society increases. She also argues that denying women the opportunity to participate in a sport on the basis of gender violates the Equal Protection Clause.
“The law is very clear; you must allow a girl to try out for a sport if there is no girls’ team,” Fields said. “A girl can be cut for her size, ability and attitude but not her gender.”
Although Fields mainly presents her argument from a legal perspective, others see the limited participation of women in contact sports as a cultural issue.
“In our society all men are assumed to be athletically superior to all women,” said Melissa Wiser, a graduate student in the Department of Women’s Studies. “As a result, athletic participation impacts and perpetuates our perceptions of masculinity and femininity on the field and off.”
Wiser is currently working on research involving differences between the rules of men’s and women’s lacrosse.
Some women prefer their version of the game.
“I don’t think the rules should be the same,” said Leslie Sullivan, an OSU alumna who graduated in 2005. “Not having all the pads and equipment allows you to run faster and see better,” she said.
Sullivan also said that most women would not be able to keep up with the guys, but Wiser disagrees.
“Women are absolutely physically capable of participating in contact sports against other women and against other men,” she said.
Clara Alden-Coe, a freshman in social work, plays on OSU’s women’s rugby club. She said unlike lacrosse, the rules for men’s and women’s rugby are almost the same.
“The rules should be the same; we can definitely handle it,” she said.
Alden-Coe also said women are at a disadvantage when it comes to competing against men because women are generally not as encouraged to excel in sports.
“Cultural things come into play that really put a woman at a disadvantage,” she said. “Given equal opportunities and encouragement, women could compete in co-ed sports.”
Hannah Tyler can be reached at [email protected].
