Women in sport

Feminism and women leaders Sport

Introduction

Historically, Australian women have made their mark in the sports record books worldwide. Despite this, women’s sport has traditionally played a minor role in Australia’s national identity, coming in a distance third behind sportsmen and racehorses.

For several centuries Australian women have struggled against direct resistance to their participation in sport. But as the struggle for equality continues, undeniable achievements and unwavering determination are now gaining more recognition than even the most impressive horses.

Secondary sources on the history of women in sport are scarce. However, you can find a wide range of relevant material at the Library, including books, journals, newspapers, pictures, oral history interviews and online databases.

A gold medal standing upright on a white cotton surface. The medal shows a figure holding a trumped and a wine amphorae. Behind the figure is a bust on a stand. In raised lettering around the edge of the medal are the words 'Olympiska Spelen Stockholm' The year '1912' is also present.

Olympic gold medal won by Miss Fanny Durack at Stockholm, 1912, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-139311257

Using the catalogue

Use the catalogue standard search to find titles, authors, or subjects.

If you get too many results, use the Limit your search options (at the right of the results page) to display only the items of interest. e.g. audio (oral histories) or manuscripts
If you need to widen your search, click on subject headings in an item’s catalogue record to find other material related to that subject.

Examples of subject searches you can try include:

Women athletes – Australia
Sports for women - Australia
Sports for women – Australia – [geographical place] (e.g. New South Wales)
Sports for women – social aspects - Australia
Sex discrimination in sports - Australia
Sports – sex differences
Women athletes – social aspects

You can also search for women in a particular sport either by individual names or by using different sports and places, e.g.

Women – [sport players] – [geographical place]

Geographical place can include both State and city/town e.g. New South Wales – Sydney.

You can also add terms such as Biography, Portraits, Photographs, Interviews.

Examples of subject searches and items in our collections for a selection of sports can be found below.

Breaking the mould by Angela Pippos
Half the race: a history of Australian women in sport by Marion K. Stell
Winning Women in the Susan Mitchell Collection – collection of 13 oral history interviews with prominent Australian sportswomen. Also published into a book Winning women: challenging the Norms in Australian sport by Susan Mitchell with Ken Dyer

The book cover for 'The Matilda Effect' by Fiona Crawford. The image on the cover shows 7 women in Australian team soccer uniforms jumping, cheering and hugging one another.

Selected works

Roar: the stories behind AFLW – a movement bigger than sport by Samantha Lane
Play on! : the hidden history of Women’s Australian Rules Football by Brunette Lenkic & Rob Hess
More than a kick : footy, the photo and me by Tayla Harris
Leesa Catto interviewed by Nikki Hennignham [sound recording]

A sepia toned photograph of a woman sitting on a rock. She is wearing an old fashioned swim suit. She is sitting crossed legged. Beneath her is a caption saying 'MISS FANNY DURACK' Champion Amateur Lady Swimmer of the World'

Exchange Studios, Portrait of Fanny Durack, 1912, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-140681122

Women swimmers -- Australia -- Biography
Women swimmers -- Australia -- Interviews
Women swimmers -- Australia -- [Photographs] or [Portraits]
Swimmers -- Australia -- Portraits
Women swimmers -- [geographical place e.g. New South Wales] -- [geographical place e.g. Sydney] -- [Photographs/Portraits]

Selected items

Mina Wylie interviewed by Neil Bennetts [sound recording] – freely available online.
The original million dollar mermaid : the Annette Kellerman story by Emily Gibson with Barbara Firth
Biographical cuttings on Sarah Fanny Durack, Olympic gold medalist, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals

Women tennis players -- Australia -- Biography
Women tennis players -- Australia -- Interviews
Women tennis players -- Australia -- Photographs or [portraits]
Tennis players -- Australia -- [Biography]

Selected items

Barty : arise, Queen of Oz by Ron Reed and Chris McLeod
Home! : the Evonne Goolagong story by Evonne Goolagong Cawley & Phil Jarratt
Thelma Long interviewed by Rob Linn for the Sport oral history project [sound recording] – freely available online.
Wendy Turnbull interviewed by Rob Linn for the Sport oral history project [sound recording] – freely available online.
Evonne Cawley interviewed by Susan Mitchell for Winning women in the Susan Mitchell collection [sound recording]
Margaret Court interviewed by Gail O'Hanlon for the Battye Library collection [sound recording]

black and white photo of a woman athlete running

Australian Information Service, [Portrait of Betty Cuthbert], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136738143

Women athletes -- [Geographical place] -- [Biography] or [Interviews] or [Photographs] or [Portraits]
Women track and field athletes -- [Geographical place] -- [Biography] or [Interviews] etc.

Selected items

The golden girl by Rohan Clarke
Decima Norman : the first golden girl by James Brear
Raelene Boyle interviewed by Susan Mitchell for Winning women in the Susan Mitchell collection [sound recording]

If you are a registered reader, you can request items to read and photocopy in the Library's reading rooms.

Registered readers can also search selected subscription databases via our eResources portal.

If you can't visit the Library, you can use Copies Direct to request copies and have them sent to you via mail or email. Please note there may be copyright restrictions when using this service.

You can also search Trove to find a library closer to you which has the item in their collection.

If there is no library near you with the item, you may be able to arrange an interlibrary loan through your local public or institutional library. Please ask staff at your local library for assistance with this.