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1 1 Background and History Introduction While women have historically never participated in sport to the extent that men have, women have also not been utterly excluded from sport. Throughout the ages, women have found ways to be physically active or compete in sport. In many ways, the story of women in sport parallels the larger story of wom- en’s movements toward equality. In other words, despite what cultural norms have dictated, there has never been 100 percent compliance. That is, the history of women in sport is made up of all the times women have not been complacent, and insisted on sport and physical activity because they simply wanted to play, move, participate, and compete. That story is complex and nuanced as it has intertwined with society’s views of gender—of female and male, of feminine and masculine and the behaviors and societal roles associated with each at any given historical moment. It has also depended as much on social class, race, and other identities. There were different sport opportuni- ties for upper-class women compared to women of working class. White women enjoyed significantly greater and different opportunities in sport than women of color. These differences shaped which women pursued what kinds of sport. The early struggles and differences shaped the current landscape of sport for girls and women today. American tennis player Helen Wills, a pioneer in women’s sports, practices at the California Tennis Club in San Francisco on June 11, 1941. (Paul Popper/ Popperfoto/Getty Images)