‘Battle of the Sexes’ with Billie Jean King & Bobby Riggs
2011/2012
This is a feminist theatre piece comprised of songs, facts about women in sport and also a series of monologues. The opening monologue, ‘When Billie Beat Bobby’ is an account of the ‘Battle of the Sexes‘ tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. The infamous match took place is 1973.
A lot of sport stereotypes are based on traditional notions of gender and sexual orientation. These rigid stereotypes are often internalised. This can adversely affect the diversity of people who take part in particular sports. Boys are
expected to be play football or football because they are seen as ‘macho’ sports. Girls, on the other hand, are mocked for playing rugby or other ‘male sports’, because it is seen to contradict socially accepted rules related to femininity and what it is to be a woman or ‘girly girl’. These stereotypes only serve to reinforce narrow minded views in relation to gender and sexual orientation – such as ruby men are ‘macho’ and those who do not like or play ruby are ‘poofs’. Or that girls who play sport are ‘tomboys’ or lesbians.
Sports Sisters was commissioned by Stonewall Cymru as part of LGBTQ+ History Month in 2010. I t was performed to raise awareness of the achievements of LGBTQ+ people in sport.
