Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for She's a Knockout! by L.A. Jennings - Available

She's a Knockout!

A History of Women in Fighting Sports

by L.A. Jennings
ebook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Read a sample Read a sample
1 of 1 copy available
Women's fighting sports have a rich and storied history. As far back as the eighteenth century, female fighters battled at varying levels, from county fairs to elite events. With new opportunities to compete in legitimate arenas—from the Olympics and the Golden Gloves to wrestling tournaments and Ultimate Fighting Championships—women are now able to fight in ways their predecessors never could. And though women today still often face the same derision their predecessors faced, their fortitude and determination has earned them respect from much of the fighting community.
In She's a Knockout!: A History of Women in Fighting Sports, L.A. Jenningschronicles the stories of these strong and resilient women—including wrestlers, mixed martial arts competitors, and boxers—and the different issues they have encountered. Throughout the narrative, Jennings situates the stories of the female fighters in the culture of their time, revealing how women were often seen as objects of spectacle and ridicule before finally garnering admiration in the fighting world. The women featured in this book include England's "Championess" Elizabeth Stokes of the 1720s, American wrestler Cora Livingstone in the 1930s, and early MMA great Debi Purcell in the 2000s.
Featuring historical and contemporary photographs and exclusive interviews with professional fighters, this book delivers an in-depth look into the struggles and triumphs of female fighters. Fans of fighting sports, sports historians, and those interested in the history of women in sports will find this a fascinating and illuminating read.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    October 23, 2014

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781442236448

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781442236448
      • File size: 2157 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      November 15, 2014

      Some of us can remember when the general public's only awareness of women fighting came through watching grainy images of the flamboyantly villainous Fabulous Moolah flickering across black-and-white TV screens. Today, both men's and women's mixed martial arts are in the mainstream, and women such as media darling Ronda Rousey can earn up to $250,000 per bout. Likewise, women's freestyle wrestling debuted as an Olympic sport in 2004 and was joined by boxing in 2012. Here Jennings, a scholar specializing in feminist issues, popular culture, and American history, and a fighter in her own right, shows that women boxers and grapplers have actually had a long past, as she traces the evolution of the many varieties of women's fighting from the 1700s to the present. Along the way, the author also examines women's cultural roles over the years and their participation in sports of all kinds. VERDICT This might be better received as a popular, instead of a scholarly, history, but it undoubtedly adds valuable insights into women's role in sports and society.--Jim Burns, formerly with Jacksonville P.L., FL

      Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading
Check out what's being checked out right now Content of this digital collection is funded by your local Minuteman library, supplemented by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.