About National Women and Girls in Sports Day
The National Girls and Women in Sports Day is an annual day of observance held on the Wednesday during the first week of February. It acknowledges the achievements of female athletes who have broken barriers and also serves as a day for reflection.
It is a day to recognize the gender disparities still present within athletics worldwide, including inequalities in funding and the gender wage gap. By designating a specific day each year, the initiative emphasizes the need to highlight the contributions of female athletes, coaches, and leaders, fostering a culture that values and respects their accomplishments.
History of National Girls and Women in Sports Day
The life and legacy of United States (US) National Volleyball player Ms. Flora (Flo) Hyman sparked the creation of National Women and Girls in Sports Day.
Ms. Hyman was a volleyball player for the University of Houston from 1973 to 1977 and for the US National Volleyball team from 1974 to 1984. Ms. Hyman was the first woman to receive an athletic scholarship, which holds significance as her achievements paved the way for increased opportunities for female athletes in higher education, according to uhcougars.com. Ms. Hyman strongly advocated for women in collegiate sports throughout her short career. Ms. Hyman passed away in 1986 at the age of 31 after a fatal aortic dissection due to undiagnosed Marfan syndrome, while playing in a tournament in Japan, but her legacy continues to live on through this commemorative event.
In 1972, former President Richard M. Nixon signed Title IX, which granted equal access to sports for girls in the United States (US). Former President Ronald Reagan established the national holiday February 4th 1987 to recognize the contributions female athletes have made to the US and to shed light on the importance of advancing women’s sports, according to reaganlibrary.gov.
The national holiday originally celebrated female athletes at the professional level, but it rapidly expanded to include amateur and aspiring athletes and younger generations of girls in sports. The Women’s Sports Foundation, Girls Inc., The National Women’s Law Center, and the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition collaborated to advocate for the recognition of this celebration as a national holiday. Their influential support led to widespread acknowledgment of the celebration by schools, colleges, and other organizations.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day benefits female athletes by making them more competitive, more confident, and healthier. The recognition of women in sports allows them to fit into leadership roles that can positively affect their lives.
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