Historically, women in America have been behind other countries when it comes to sports. In the 1700’s Germany and France first realized that physical education should include women. Women in the US were not banned from sports, but it was looked down on. Even in Jordan Baker's era most men seemed to look down on women athletes.
The Olympics allowed women to compete in 1900. The Paris games allowed women to play lawn tennis and golf, though a few women managed to compete in croquet and Charlotte Cooper placed high enough to earn medals in two sailing categories. Cooper's sport allowing her to be the only female in its competition. She competed with two family members. The Olympic sports are decided by those in charge. Often in the past, the games could be a reflection of the time and sexism in sports. The first games, the 1900 Olympics, to allow women allowed them to have two sports and the second games to allow women contained them to one sport. The St Louis Olympics, 1904, only allowed women to compete in archery. The London Olympics, 1908, allowed three. America was clearly behind the curve when it came to accepting that women could enjoy and compete in sports just like their male counterparts. This is demonstrated by the fact that before, and occasionally throughout, the 1920’s it was believed that running and sweating were unladylike and competition was almost out of the question. Swimming, tennis and golf being the most commonly accepted sports for women.
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Sadly it was usually only golden for men. The title Golden Age of Sport refers to how sports grew in popularity as Americans had more down time. The great sporting stadiums Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium were built in the 1920’s. Coincidentally, Yankee Stadium’s construction began in