An unapologetically candid and illuminating history of women and their fight for equality, told through the influential world of sports. From early Amazons to modern-day athletes, women have been fighting for their rightful place in the world. The history of these female athletes--whether warriors on the battlefield or competitors in the sports arena--has often been neglected, yet it is through sports that women have changed society, gaining entry into education, travel, politics, and more. When Women Stood: The Untold History of Females Who Changed Sports and the World is an eye-opening chronicle of the amazing women who refused to accept the status quo and fought for something better for themselves and for those who would follow. It includes the stories of female football players, Olympic athletes, powerlifters, and soccer stars, of historians, archeologists, crusaders, and scientists. It also reveals the surprisingly interwoven history of women's fashion, scientific advances, feminine ideals, and more. Women's sports history cannot be told without also telling the story of the fight for gender and racial equality, economics, medical biases, gay and transgender history, violence, religion, media, abuse, and activism. When Women Stood is the first to go beyond the record books and gold medal counts to truly dig into the vital role women and sports have played in instigating change in society as a whole. And it shows that, despite seemingly unsurmountable odds, the true spirit of the female athlete can never be restrained.
Alexandra Allred made sports (and medical) history through activism and determination. When she learned that women were not allowed in bobsled, she lobbied for equal status and would ultimately win the U.S. Nationals in September 1994, making sports history as she was named to the first-ever U.S. women's bobsled team. When the United States Olympic Committee named her Athlete of the Year for her sport, it made international news as Allred was pregnant when she made the team. At the time, there was very little data on elite pregnant athletes and powerlifting/plyometrics. While Allred became the "poster child" of the Case Western OB/GYN international study, Allred was, at nearly five months pregnant, squatting 375 lbs. and clocked at 20 MPH while running. The results of this study changed how to measure the safety of baby in utero for competitive athletes. Both the United States and International Olympic Committee use Alex's training data as a safety guide for pregnant athletes and she served as a fitness/nutrition expert for two decades. Upon retirement, Sports Illustrated asked her to try out for a women's professional football team and write about her experiences in the award-winning book, Atta Girl! A Celebration of Women in Sport (Wish Publishing). Alex's professional athletic and writing careers have been based on empowerment. Alex wrote the first ever US bylaws for the women's bobsled program and fought to have women included in the Olympic Games; she changed protocol for elite coaches (as well as the USOC and IOC) in regards to physical training for pregnant athletes and their babies; testified before the IOC at the London Games; served as an Air Ambassador, lobbied on Capitol Hill and was nominated as a White House Champion of Change for Public Health. She is an award-winning documentary filmmaker/author and continues to freelance nationally and internationally, as well as public speaking on issues of empowerment, equality, business and education. She is an adjunct professor at both Tarleton State University and Navarro College, teaching kinesiology lectures and classes, as well as leadership and success skills courses. In 2015, Allred created an exercise and empowerment program for special needs population who need a health/wellness overhaul but also need greater self-esteem and confidence building. This 4th degree black belt retired from competitive fighting long ago but continues to offer free self-defense classes for women and health/wellness class for those living within the Special Needs world. www.alexandraallred.com
A fascinating account of how, throughout history, women in sports took the lead--and continue to lead--in the journey to equality with the other half of the population.--Sandy Rosenthal, author of Words Whispered in Water: Why the Levees Broke in Hurricane Katrina A respectful tribute to remarkable women influencers and the historical contributions they made throughout sport and society. An inspiration to all.--Jill Bakken Linder, American Olympic bobsledder An original, important, and timely contribution to women's history. Focusing on the struggle for equality in sports, Allred vividly illuminates how this affects every other aspect of women's ongoing fight for our rightful place in the world. Thoroughly researched, the book is also compelling and highly readable.--Jean Kilbourne, award-winning documentary filmmaker (Killing Us Softly), public speaker, writer, and activist Cascading through centuries of time, this book quickly engages the reader as it highlights the rarely told stories of women sport icons, from centuries past to the well-known game changers of today. The author's research and historical insights in this eye opener delve into the tumultuous plight of women in sports and the dysfunctional social norms they continually face...and break.--Andrea Harkins, author, speaker, and world champion martial artist This book took me on a journey to realizing the fundamental truth I had been missing: for women, sports represent freedom--the freedom to control their own bodies and their own destiny. For a history buff, it's a feast. For someone studying women's history, it's essential.--Lissa Bryan, history enthusiast and author of The End of All Things Alexandra Allred tells the stories of the unknown, the unheard, and the unpopular truth of women in sports.--Chenell Brooks, Coach SoHo, defensive coordinator and football Hall of Famer When Women Stood inspired me. The strong and courageous women profiled have paved the way for so many girls to have opportunities that their grandmothers would not have dreamed of. I'm reaching for my gym bag now.--Holly Kondras, president of Wish Publishing, the first women's sports publisher
