The Outstanding Achievements of the 20th Century Canadian Women

            In the fall of 1995, David McDonald published an article titled The Golden Age of Woman and Sport in Canada. It is a very interesting and informal article about the Golden Age, the Dark Age and the return of the women’s participation in sports throughout the 20^th century. McDonald explained that the beginning of the Golden Age for women were during the periods of 1920-30, through the Great Depression and prior to World War II. Through these years women were free to participate in certain sports. However during WWII women were not able to participate in sport because they now had to take over the jobs that men possessed in the offices and factories, so that men were able to go to war. Post World War II society had assumed women would return to the role of the housewife and the mother role because men returning from the war to their jobs and the population needed to populate. However, during this time of the 1950s and 1960s there were always a few exceptional women who went in contradiction of the norm and continued their talents in sports, such as, Barbara Ann Scot and Lucile Wheeler[1]. Nevertheless, the return of Canadian women regularly playing sports only resumed in late 1960’s because funding for sports began to rise again for women. McDonald considers we may call this time for athletic women, the second Golden Age in Canadian history[2].

            Unfortunately, the Dark Age, during the 1940s and the 1950s[3] of our history was a very gloomy time for Canadian women. The hard work and dedication these women set forth in sport during this time had been merely erased. Many goals and accomplishments that were set by these Canadian women were sadly dismissed and overlooked.

The Golden Age of Woman and Sport in Canada concentrates immensely on the 1920s and the 1930s. McDonald speaks about several important Canadian women athletes and teams such as Bobbie Rosenfeld, a star track and field, tennis, basketball and softball player, Dorothy Walton, a star tennis and badminton player, the legendary Edmonton Grads who were an outstanding basketball team and the Matchless Six who were an exceptional track and field Olympic team. McDonald provide many examples of many of Canadian women, such as the ones mentioned above, that strengthens his argument. Also, he mentions many important events that had taken place for women in sport through certain decades, such as after World War I, during the Great Depression and the feminist movement in the 1960s. Furthermore, McDonald clearly indicates and strengthens his argument by providing us with information of the sporting boom in the 1960s for women and the gradual increase to where we are today.  McDonald explains that although these teams and individual athletes were very successful in the early 20^th century, many were not considered Olympic sports for women until “1960”[4] such as speed skating or “1976”[5] such as basketball.  Therefore, before World War II there were many strong athletic women, who were not able to compete at the highest levels of sport because the Olympics would not allow them to participate. 

            Although this article may have numerous strengths, there are certain areas that are weak. McDonald only briefly touched on the barriers that women faced on the world of sports. McDonald states, “the Canadian medical unit of the Games (Olympics) spoke out against participation by women on the grounds that such activity might prove harmful to the females reproductive system”[6]. He also indicates that many Olympic officials debated on the inclusion of women in the Amsterdam track and field competition in 1928. However he does not go in depth how difficult it was for these women to be accepted in the masculine world of sport. McDonald allows the reader to interpret that it was essentially very easy for women receive sponsors to play sports. Also, that athletic women may not have been accepted on the international level, however the “support at home was enthusiastic”[7]. It is very doubtful that there was such a strong support system by all at home, in Canada, for women to leave the house chores and raising children to become an athlete.

            
           Moreover, this article by McDonald lacked organization and clarity. Where he could have described each time frame in a chronological manner, he jumped from one from another, which can lead readers to great confusion. Also, McDonald concentrated much of his article on the athletes in the Golden Age before World War II. The organization of this article could have simply improved with the grouping of each time frame.

            In conclusion, McDonald did a good job persuading the reader that many of our Canadian women athletes were absolutely outstanding on the national and international level with all the examples he gave. This article gave great importance and optimism for female sports and allowed many readers to see the immense participation in Canadian sport by Canadian women. While much of their accomplishments may not have been recorded in history it was inspirational to see how many women succeeded in sport, even when they were faced with several barriers. However, the weakness of this article was depth of certain large events that took place for women, the organization, and clarity and neglecting the fact of how difficult it was for women to do so. McDonald allowed the reader to believe that it was very easy and society supported women to become athletes in the early 20^th century. McDonald neglected to explain the numerous barriers women would have faced by society, the media, friends and family members at this time. Because, even now, in the 21^st century, women are still facing barriers through the media about being too masculine, and the acceptance in certain sports, especially contact sports.

By: Solange Landry

200901105

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[1] David McDonald. “The Golden Age of Women and Sport in Canada” Canadian Women Studies, 1995. 12

[2] Ibid., 12

[3] Ibid., 12

[4] Ibid., 13

[5] Ibid., 13

[6] Ibid., 14

[7] Ibid., 14

Bibliography

David McDonald. “The Golden Age of Women and Sport in Canada” Canadian Women Studies, 15(4), 1995.