Why Women and Girls Shouldn't Play Sports

Anna Kessel has been writing about women in sports for nearly two decades. Her work — especially when it comes to women’s football — has been so impactful, she was awarded a Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as part of the 90th birthday honors of Queen Elizabeth II. Many consider her book, Eat Sweat Play, to be a must-read at the nexus of feminism and fitness. On this episode, Kessel breaks down the history of women’s athletics, tells us why societal views are largely to blame for barriers to entry, and shares how we can all play a role in evolving the narrative of women’s place in sports.

Learn More

• If two quotes from Eat Sweat Play had you wanting more, find Kessel’s book here.
• Hear more about the benefits of getting girls in sport from our episode with sports psychologist Jim Taylor, PhD, then find more resources for how you can knock down gender barriers to sport.
• For more amazing stories about women athletes, check out Hustle Rule: The Untold Story of Women’s Soccer.