Introduction
Just under 60 years ago, women’s sport participation was taboo in North America. Women in sport were often dismissed, barred or mocked at major competitions. Societal displeasure and resistance against women in sport only intensified with the level of competition they sought.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, many women were determined to challenge these barriers and reshape the public’s perspective on women’s athletic abilities. The 1960s and 1970s marked North America’s “women’s liberation” movement, a time in which competitive sports were still largely reserved for men, but an increase in sex-based discrimination cases set the stage for the fight to establish a woman’s right to participate in sports. Billie Jean King’s 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match and Kathrine Switzer’s 1967 Boston Marathon serve to illustrate the great degree of resilience within women to alter societal norms despite the pressure of live television.
King and Switzer ignited momentum for acceptance, visibility and encouragement for generations of young girls to participate in sports and physical activities, fostering collective adherence and open-mindedness in the U.S. and, arguably, across the globe. Not only the participation but also the actions of athletes such as Billie Jean King and Kathrine Switzer led to a major turning point in how society viewed women’s athletic ability and acceptance in sports.
Major Contribution to Women’s Sporting Rights
Billie Jean King
At 11 years old, Billie Jean King began her tennis journey at public courts in Long Beach, California, and felt quickly drawn to the game despite facing socioeconomic barriers. King saved up money to buy her first racquet, played in homemade shorts, and was unable to afford coaching or private clubs, compelling her to reflect on how one’s sport participation was a privilege. King had a vision and relied on her determination, which echoed throughout her career. As a self-taught player who developed her own tactics, King displayed analytical curiosity and observed others’ playing styles to create her own.
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In 1973, women were given the opportunity to compete in professional leagues and marathons. Regardless of this policy and social change, female athletes continued to face criticism and backlash, including from male athletes such as Bobby Riggs, who described women as “too emotional” to be real opponents and women’s tennis as “inferior” to men’s. After Riggs challenged King to a tennis match, often referred to as the “Battle of the Sexes,” King accepted the challenge, later recalling in an interview that she felt a loss would “set [women] back 50 years if [she] didn’t win that match,” a quote reported by the Smithsonian’s Women’s History blog.
On September 20, 1973, King and Riggs played in front of almost 30,500 people at the Houston Astrodome. The 1973 Super Bowl VII had over 67.7 million U.S. viewers, while King’s tennis match had over 90 million viewers tune in globally. It should be noted that Riggs was a retired 55-year-old tennis player at the time when he demeaned King at her peak, saying that he could win in his current state in a match against her. In straight sets, King won 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, validating women in sports. King’s skill directly challenged the idea that women were inferior in sports, and by winning in the public eye, she helped shift those views for millions of people.
Just a year prior, the U.S. federal law, Title IX (1972), was passed for sex discrimination to be banned in athletics and education. Amplifying policy-level intervention, women’s tennis got exposure to increased sponsorships, monetization, and visibility. King’s performance preserved the shift in cultural perceptions of sex and physical ability. King’s influence extended beyond her match, resulting in changes for women’s opportunities and perception in sports.
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Kathrine Switzer
Just 6 years prior to King, Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to run and complete the 1967 Boston Marathon, a reminder of just how recent this history is. Switzer originally signed up for the race as K.V. Switzer instead of Kathrine, wearing a baggy gray sweatsuit on top of what would have been her ideal competitive athletic wear to avoid drawing attention. Ultimately, Switzer’s hood came off about 3 kilometers into the race, and that is when runners, photographers and officials discovered her sex. Women may not have been officially banned from competing, but the idea deviated so significantly from societal norms that many runners and race officials infamously tried to derail Switzer’s run through attempts to snatch her race number bib, pulling her back and pushing her off the road. Switzer’s experience highlighted the resistance women faced in sports and made it clear that women were subjected to social norms that instilled barriers independent of their potential abilities.
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With the hostile experiences Switzer endured, her exhaustion and overwhelming emotions caused moments where she wanted to stop running. Switzer’s then-boyfriend, Tom Miller, who ran alongside Switzer, protected her from physical attacks and encouraged her to finish the race with the help of her coach, former Boston Marathon runner Arnie Briggs. Switzer knew that there was more on the line than just a single race. Combining her support system and the perseverance of internal grit, Switzer’s marathon completion held the uplifted social acceptance regarding the trajectory of women’s sport participation. With such strong opposition and media presence, her perseverance showed what women were capable of in endurance sports, challenging long-standing assumptions about women’s physical limitations.
It was not until 1972 that Switzer was first officially accepted to participate in the Boston Marathon. Switzer’s perseverance despite her uphill battles spoke volumes. She created a never-ending appreciation of current and future generations of women who love to move, self-express through sports and compete to achieve their best. Switzer helped lead an attitude shift toward women in sports towards greater acceptance and equality.
What about now?
To think of what could have happened if King or Switzer had woken up those mornings and backed out. What if they had started their competitions and allowed themselves to give up? Where would women in sports be today? Could that have prolonged the fight for equity across generations of women athletes and reinforced a broader societal narrative of inferiority? These world-renowned athletes essentially depict how bravery, backed by incremental preparation and effective action, can change circumstances and the societal perspective of ability.
Ultimately, King and Switzer challenged societal expectations and redefined what women can achieve in sports. Since Title IX (1972), sport participation in U.S. high schools rose from fewer than 300,000 to approximately 3.5 million girls. April 17, 1972 marked the 1972 Boston Marathon, the first year that women were allowed to compete. Alongside 276 men, 8 women took that opportunity, making women approximately 3% of participants that year, and Switzer came in third place. Since then, the 2025 Boston Marathon had over 12,000 women competing, approximately 43% of marathon competitors. The progress that we can observe from North America’s “women’s liberation” movement reflects the lasting impact that pioneers such as Billie Jean King and Kathrine Switzer have as they shape women’s opportunities and experiences in sports.
