Beyond Bend It Like Beckham

F. Grainey Timothy

Description

Though it burst into public consciousness only with the 1999 World Cup, women’s soccer has been around almost as long as its male counterpart, flourishing in England during and after World War I. From the rise of women’s soccer following Title IX legislation in the early seventies to the watershed 1999 World Cup performance that turned the American team into instant celebrities, soccer is now the most popular sport for girls and women, with participation growing exponentially worldwide. Beyond “Bend It Like Beckham” presents the first in-depth global analysis of the women’s game—both where it has come from and where it is headed. With commentary from key players, coaches, and administrators, Timothy F. Grainey follows the sport’s reach into the unlikeliest places today, even countries where women were banned from playing soccer just a few short years ago.

Though women in the United States and Canada still fight for equal treatment and funding, their situations differs markedly from the hostility, abuse, and even outright bans that some women still encounter in trying to pursue an activity they love. Through the prism of soccer, this book explores the struggle for women’s rights abroad, in countries as diverse as Sweden, Russia, South Africa, Pakistan, Australia, and Iran.

Sujets

• Sociologie, société et politique
• World Cup

Informations

• Publié par: Nebraska Paperback
• Date de parution: 01 mai 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780803240360
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

BeyondBend It Like Beckham

BEYOND Bend It Like BECKHAM T H E G L O B A L P H E N O M E N O N O F W O M E N ’ S S O C C E R

Timothy F. Grainey  UForeword by Brittany Timko

university of nebraska press s  lincoln and london

©2012by Timothy F. Grainey All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America.

Library of Congress

Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Grainey, Timothy F.

Beyond “Bend it like Beckham”: the

global phenomenon of women’s soccer / Timothy F. Grainey; foreword by Brittany Timko. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. isbn978-0-8032-3470-3(pbk.: alk. paper) 1. Soccer for women—Cross-cultural studies.2. Soccer—Social aspects— Cross-cultural studies. I. Title. gv944.5.g732012 796.334082—dc232011047387

Set in Sabon by Kim Essman.

Designed by Annie Shahan.

To my wife, April, and daughter, Arianna: two precious gems who make my life better in infinite ways

Contents

List of Illustrations  Foreword xi  Acknowledgments  Introduction xvii

ix

xv

PA R T O N E  Rapid Growth in the United States 1IX, Soccer Moms, and Title  Pioneering Players3 2 U.S. National Team,1996–1999:  “Welcome to Our Party”17

3Women’s Soccer and the Professional wusa:  “The Best Three Years of My Life”35 4 Professional Soccer (  Women’s wps ) 65

PA R T T W O Challenges in the Middle East, Africa,  and Latin America 5State of the Game in the The  Middle East105 6 Challenges and Successes in Africa123

7 Latin America: Fighting Machismo  Attitudes139 8 Women Athletes: Objects versus  Wholesome Role Models163

PA R T T H R E E  Building Leagues and National Team Programs 9 Ancestral Roots: Leveraging the Diaspora  to Build the Game Abroad181 10Leagues around the World National 201 11a Fifty-Year Ban Overcoming  in England215 12 Canada’s Youthful Road to Success231  Conclusion: “The Future of Football  Is Feminine”241

Afterword:2011Women’s World Cup

Appendix of Tables255 Selected Bibliography267

247

Illustrations

1 Brittany Timko xii 2Mutz’s flip throw Macke 9 3Parlow coaching at a clinic in Bahrain Cindy 122 4Anna Picarelli versus Goalkeeper  Abby Wambach in an international match183 5 Queensland (now Brisbane) Roar  celebrate their2008–9title win212 6(now Brisbane) Roar coach and Queensland  captain address the media213 7 Canadian Women’s National Team  coaching staff233