By: Alyson Earle 200903199
The
article written by Michael Smith entitled, “Graceful Athleticism or Robust
Womanhood: The Sporting Culture of Women in Victorian Nova Scotia, 1870-1914,”
discusses societal attitudes toward females regarding physical activity and
sport in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in Nova Scotia. Several
physical activity regimens were introduced toward the end of the nineteenth
century as a means to promote a “healthy womanhood” in Nova Scotian girls
(Smith, 1988). During this time, physical activity was regarded as a positive
method in promoting health and well-being in “high strung” women in particular
(Smith, 1988). Young women
were expected to participate in activities promoting elegance, grace and poise
in order to maintain their true femininity; while activities promoting any sort
of masculinized behavior were frowned upon (Smith, 1988). It was during this era that attitudes towards
the “pale, thin and frail” model of the ideal female shifted toward a more
athletic and voluptuous female figure (Smith, 1988).
During
the late nineteenth century throughout the Maritimes, sport was encouraged as
an alternative to socializing at drinking establishments, as this type of
behaviour was considered to be injurious to both moral and physical health
(Smith, 1988). Sport participation, on
the contrary, encouraged values such as patriotism, competition, teamwork,
leadership and courage, which all were thought to contribute to the health of
society as a whole (Smith, 1988). This
shift towards an increase in sport and recreation participation therefore
greatly benefitted society, according to its middle-class reformers (Smith,
1988).
While
attitudes toward leisure activities were shifting during this era, so was the
outlook toward ideals of feminine beauty (Smith, 1988). Similar to the changing
attitudes in the nearby United States, both male and female Nova Scotians
became increasingly disapproving of the “ideal” pale, fragile and thin female
(Smith, 1988). A curvaceous, shapely and
athletic woman became the new model of the definition of femininity and beauty,
coinciding with increased female participation in sport.
Although
physical activity was becoming increasingly popular among women, resources and
opportunities remained restricted. Women found themselves limited to
calisthenics such as gymnastics and dance; as these activities were thought to
promote grace, elegance, poise and an athletic and healthy form (Smith, 1988). It was believed that participation in these
sports would allow women to develop the strength to endure their future
maternal responsibilities (Smith, 1988). On the contrary, participation in vigorous or
competitive sports was discouraged as it had the potential to exert a
masculinizing influence, jeopardizing a woman’s femininity (Smith, 1988).
Heightened
knowledge of the benefits of physical activity became increasingly widespread,
promoting the physical culture movement in Nova Scotia in the late nineteenth
century and consequently the development of physical education programs in
schools (Smith, 1988). At this time, it was thought that physical
education and thus physical activity improved circulation, digestion and general
health (Smith, 1988).
Not
only was physical activity known to improve physical health, but also mental
and emotional health. A method of physical culture known as the Delsarte
system, or the more commonly known, Delsartism, was introduced in 1890 and emphasized
exercise as a cure for mental disorders, promoting rest and relaxation (Smith,
1988). Delsartism combined theatrical
expression and breathing and relaxation techniques with music and creative
movement and was deemed more appropriate for females, as females were believed
to have a unique nervous system from men, thus requiring special attention
(Smith, 1988).
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| An early bicycle - late 19th century |
Women
in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were discouraged from participating
in inter-collegiate sports, as these types of activities were thought to
threaten a woman’s reproductive health (Smith, 1988). Bicycling, for example,
was believed to contribute to physical, moral, and mental decline as well as a
loss of femininity in women (Smith, 1988). Furthermore, excessive bicycling was
believed to induce insanity and spinal complications. Women who were adamant
about participating in bicycling were cautioned to make special adjustments
such as moving the handle and seat high enough to prevent leaning forward and
giving less knee action (Smith, 1988).
 |
| 1900: Female bathing suit |
Like
bicycling, swimming in women was also controversial. While many believed that
swimming in the ocean had several benefits, as it was thought to cure menstrual
cramps and improve reproductive ability, many were horrified at the “indecency”
of bathing suits for women (Smith, 1988). Woman’s athletics continued to maintain
traditional attitudes toward the female sex. Any female who decided to partake
in non-traditional “female sports” were expected to maintain proper ladylike
behavior and to act in a modest and becoming manner (Smith, 1988). Reformers
tried to balance the need for healthy exercise with the need for traditional
female graces (Smith, 1988). However, in the early twentieth century, women
became increasingly involved in golf, bowling, tennis, curling, rowing, field
hockey and competitive swimming – not traditional female sports –and were
realizing their athletic potential; however, concerns about modesty still
prevailed. Even though the early twentieth century brought new opportunities
for women in sport, concerns regarding appearance and sexuality still
overpowered their athletic abilities and skill.
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| 1910: Women playing tennis at the Waegwoltic Club in Halifax, NS . |
The
article included many examples of sports that women during this time
participated in, which strengthened its validity. Reading about the Delsarte
system, for example, provided further information on how physical exercise was
used to promote rest and relaxation in women. In a world that seems to be an
increasingly stressful place, it almost seems bizarre to think that people over
a century ago would need relaxation techniques. Perhaps both men and women
today would benefit from the Delsarte system.
 |
| 1910: Swimming at the Waegwoltic Club, Northwest Arm, Halifax NS |
Throughout
the article, Smith consistently discussed how societal ideals for femininity
influenced sport participation and opportunities for women. It was frowned upon
for a woman to participate in a sport that could potentially threaten her
femininity; therefore, most women enjoyed calisthenics such as gymnastics and
dance. While women today participate in a much wider variety of sports, further
research could investigate to what degree this has changed since the early
twentieth century. It is reasonable to assume that some inequalities still
exist and it would therefore be worth researching in what ways women are still disadvantaged
today.
While
this article provided many examples of Nova Scotian women in sport in the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it would have been beneficial to
include some pictorial representation of the female sporting gear that was worn.
For example, in the section that discussed women in bicycling, it would have
helped to see an image of the bloomers women would wear on a bicycle. Furthermore,
providing an image of the female bathing costumes would have been useful. Overall,
while the article provided many great examples of sports women in history
participated in with detailed descriptions, it would have been even stronger
had it included images.
In
conclusion, this article provided a great deal of information about Nova
Scotian women in sport in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. It
was a very informative article with numerous examples of women in sport; which
strengthened its validity. It was interesting to discover that the benefits of
physical activity on the mind and body were already known during this era.
Furthermore, it is interesting to learn that although women have made great
strides in sport participation, women continue to face barriers in sport
opportunities to this day.
References:
Smith, M. (1988). Graceful athleticism or robust womanhood: the sporting culture of women in Nova Scotia, 1870-1914. Journal of Canadian Studies, 23(2), 120-133.
