See below for Brian Do's blog posting responding to the exhibition "Game Changer: The Evolution of Nineteenth Century Sports" on display at the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons at Georgia Tech for the Interdisciplinary Nineteenth-Century Studies Conference.
Sports as a Catalyst for Social Progress
Sports have long held the public imagination of societies around the world, but although, at their core, they serve as mere diversions to past the time, their influence has also allowed them to change the times. This theme resonates throughout the exhibit “Moving Bodies: Nineteenth Century Sports.” From its artifacts, pictures, and textual descriptions, the exhibit creates a multimodal setting in which it immerses the viewer in the world of nineteenth century sports.
This is apparent in the Cycling showcase, particularly the section on cycling and women:
Sports as a Catalyst for Social Progress
Sports have long held the public imagination of societies around the world, but although, at their core, they serve as mere diversions to past the time, their influence has also allowed them to change the times. This theme resonates throughout the exhibit “Moving Bodies: Nineteenth Century Sports.” From its artifacts, pictures, and textual descriptions, the exhibit creates a multimodal setting in which it immerses the viewer in the world of nineteenth century sports.
This is apparent in the Cycling showcase, particularly the section on cycling and women:
Throughout the nineteenth century, and in particular, the mid-Victorian Era, physical activity was regarded as unwomanly. In “A Lady Must Not Work,” Margaretta Grey, a progressive reformer of the Victorian Era states “there has sprung up among us a spurious refinement, that cramps the energy… of women in the upper classes of society” (Murray). These “refinements” and other social institutions largely prevented women from engaging in the professional sports of the era.
However, bicycling allowed women to push back against these restricting social norms. Bicycling was an area where women could participate with far less criticism than in other sports, such as wrestling or football. By the end of the century, an “increasing number of women became advocates for bicycling.” Such small forays into previously forbidden territory allowed women to create a beachhead for future advancements into previously male domains, strengthening the feminist movement by serving as a symbol of the emancipated women. The exhibit clearly illustrates this with the following quote from Susan B. Anthony:
However, bicycling allowed women to push back against these restricting social norms. Bicycling was an area where women could participate with far less criticism than in other sports, such as wrestling or football. By the end of the century, an “increasing number of women became advocates for bicycling.” Such small forays into previously forbidden territory allowed women to create a beachhead for future advancements into previously male domains, strengthening the feminist movement by serving as a symbol of the emancipated women. The exhibit clearly illustrates this with the following quote from Susan B. Anthony:
The integration of such bold quotes allows the viewer to easily see the main points of the importance of the bicycle, and the use of color further enhances this aspect by providing a sharp contrast with the black and white text and photographs the characterize the rest of the exhibit.
Sports served as a catalyst for the emancipation of women during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The bicycle served as a metaphor for women’s mastery of their own lives, as now, they no longer had to depend on men for transportation (Zheulin). Bicycling also necessitated more practical dress for women, as seen here:
Sports served as a catalyst for the emancipation of women during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The bicycle served as a metaphor for women’s mastery of their own lives, as now, they no longer had to depend on men for transportation (Zheulin). Bicycling also necessitated more practical dress for women, as seen here:
The inclusion of a photograph allows for a much more succinct exhibit, and provides a level of detail that would otherwise be difficult to express in words, especially in such a limited exhibition space.
“The story of women’s collective effort to redefine the boundaries and potentialities of the womanly life” (Murray) was one of the main stories of women in the nineteenth century, and the bicycle serves as an important chapter in that story.
Women were now no longer play things or items to simply view, but physically active and independent members of society. The bicycle served as an icon which galvanized support for the fledgling feminist movements in Europe and the United States, and it symbolizes the impact of sports on society. Although the names of these individual women may be lost to history, their impact to society is perhaps just as profound as Oscar Wilde, George Eliot, and Robert Livingstone.
Works Cited
Moving Bodies: Nineteenth Century Sports. Georgia Tech Clough Gallery Space, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015.
Murray, Janet. Strong Minded Women & Other Lost Voices Form 19th Century England. Pantheon, 1982.
Zheulin, Peter. “Women on Wheels: The Bicycle and the Women’s Movement of the 1890s.” Bicycle and the Women’s Suffragette Movement of the 1890s. Annie Londenderry, 2006. Web. 17 Apr. 2015. <http://www.annielondonderry.com/womenWheels.html>
“The story of women’s collective effort to redefine the boundaries and potentialities of the womanly life” (Murray) was one of the main stories of women in the nineteenth century, and the bicycle serves as an important chapter in that story.
Women were now no longer play things or items to simply view, but physically active and independent members of society. The bicycle served as an icon which galvanized support for the fledgling feminist movements in Europe and the United States, and it symbolizes the impact of sports on society. Although the names of these individual women may be lost to history, their impact to society is perhaps just as profound as Oscar Wilde, George Eliot, and Robert Livingstone.
Works Cited
Moving Bodies: Nineteenth Century Sports. Georgia Tech Clough Gallery Space, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015.
Murray, Janet. Strong Minded Women & Other Lost Voices Form 19th Century England. Pantheon, 1982.
Zheulin, Peter. “Women on Wheels: The Bicycle and the Women’s Movement of the 1890s.” Bicycle and the Women’s Suffragette Movement of the 1890s. Annie Londenderry, 2006. Web. 17 Apr. 2015. <http://www.annielondonderry.com/womenWheels.html>