Charlie Schwartz, “Co-ed Tennis Queen’s Place On Lion Varsity Net Team Seen as Likely Possibility” (April 5, 1935)

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In his Daily Collegian article, “Co-ed Tennis Queen’s Place On Lion Varsity Net Team Seen as Likely Possibility,” Charlie Schwartz displays the sexism and disproportionate treatment female athletes were given in the 1930’s, while chronicling the possible inclusion of Dorothy “Dot” Anderson on the men’s tennis team.¹ His article perpetuates stereotypes, but also is eerily reminiscent of the way female athletes are still spoken of today. Anderson was a varsity letter winner, 31 years before there were varsity athletics for women at Penn State.² In fact, she believed that when she played, she “was an item of curiosity when [I] played, a lot of people wanted to see this weirdo play.”³

The article employs several overt and subtle jabs at Anderson to display who she is as a female and as an athlete. The author is clearly facing a struggle in terms of how to define her. He goes from calling her a blonde, which is demeaning, to talking about her prowess, to finishing by saying she is a threat to win a position otherwise saying a women could really steal a good man’s job. He simply does not know how to broach this subject without both complimenting and cutting her down to nothing more than being a woman.

This article showcases the silence that is found when looking at women’s athletics at Penn State before Title IX. It shows the sexism with which Anderson was treated and the lack of respect given to her. There is still a long way to go in many women’s sports in terms of attendance and popularity but there is no longer a struggle to be seen as athletes.

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