Out of Bounds: Women, Sport and Sexuality

Feminist Helen Lenskyj presents an insightful examination of the links between women's participation in sports and the control of their reproductive capacity and sexuality. She identifies the female frailty myth, the illusion of male athletic superiority, and the concept of compulsory heterosexuality as powerful determinants of'masculinity' and 'femininity' in the realm of sport. Looking at developments from the 1880s to the present, Lenskyj discusses medical views of women's health and physical potential and examines the social attitudes and practices that keep girls and women from participating in the full range of sports and physical activities. Topics include contact sports, self-defence, fitness, bodybuilding, and women-only sports. Photographs, memorabilia and eye-opening information from past and present reveal the missing links between women, sport, and sexuality.