The effects of women’s history have left UCA’s women coaches and athletes wishing to see more support from UCA’s community as well as a better effort toward equality in women’s sports compared to men’s.

In light of March being Women’s History Month, it is important to look at and gain insight into the evolution of women’s sports and the hardships women in the sports industry have and continue to face today.

To start, there was a time before the 1900s when women’s sports did not exist. While it was taboo for women to break gender norms and showcase even the slightest bit of masculinity, men deemed women as not capable to participate in such activities.

According to Concordia University, Saint Paul, it was not until the 1900 Olympics that women made their first appearance in sports where 22 women competed in what was labeled as “womanly sports.” 

Following 22 years later, in 1922, the first Women’s Olympic Games took place in Paris where women started to compete in more physically demanding events.

Throughout the next hundred years, women would defy the odds and prove themselves to perform and athletically accomplish just as much as their male counterparts; this did not come easy however as women struggled to break the stigma, earn resources and gain respect from males who were involved in, and are fans of the industry.

Today, the evolution of women’s sports can be seen by those a part of women’s sports on UCA’s campus. 

“The trend of equality in women’s athletics is improving across the country. I think the visibility of women’s athletics, in general, is helping bring women’s sports to the forefront,” UCA softball coach Jenny Parsons said.

Being a part of the movement, UCA has taken steps in an attempt to provide equal resources to its women’s athletics program.

“The women’s sports have evolved at UCA in terms of facilities and funding for female athletes. I have seen a vast improvement in facilities in general, with much improvement for women’s sports across the board,” Parsons said.

Parson added that even with these improvements, she would like to see the UCA community continue to work toward equality between men’s and women’s athletic programs.

The women athletes of these programs also long to experience the same amount of peer and campus support that men athletes get during their athletic performances.

“Being women in sports, we tend to see less support by fans and sometimes encounter people dropping their standards which can be a little degrading,” sophomore women’s soccer player Emily Wissel-Littmann said.

Littmann feels one of the reasons that equality in women’s athletic programs is lacking is because women do not get the representation they deserve in the sports industry. 

“I hope to see more things in the media that highlight women’s achievements in sports at all ages. I feel there have been great accomplishments that have gone unnoticed,” Littmann said.

This is what encourages Littman to find her own empowerment which is playing games and practicing with male athletes as a way to prove to herself that she is just as capable. It serves as a reminder and inspiration to other women that they are too.

The fight may be rocky, but women in sports are determined to change the industry for the better.