Immodest and Sensational:
150 Years of Canadian Women
in Sport
Support Canada's History in other ways (more)
by M. Ann Hall
James Lorimer and Company Ltd., Toronto, 2008 $19.95
The most interesting part of Immodest and Sensational is the stuff few people today remember. After all, who recalls the madcap marathon walking matches in which women competed in the 1870s? Or the scantily clad Louise Armaindo of Ste-Clet, Quebec, the “champion female bicycle rider of the world” in the 1880s? Or 1907 tennis champ Lois Moyes Bickle, who had a mean serve and urged women players to learn to hit harder?
M. Ann Hall, a professor emeritus of physical education at the University of Alberta, reminds us that back in the 1920s and 1930s, Canadian women had a robust presence in sports like hockey, softball, basketball, tennis, speed skating, marathon swimming, and track, with clubs and leagues all over the country.
But somehow, in the aftermath of the Second World War, it became uncool for women to sweat or show muscle. Despite intense pressure to put their lipstick on straight and keep their coifed hair in place, athletes like marathon swimmer Marilyn Bell continued to dazzle crowds in the 1950s.
This concise book provides a good overview and is nicely illustrated. My only frustration was in not being able to find any information about the interesting cover photograph.
— Nelle Oosterom (Read bio)
Nelle Oosterom is the Senior Editor of Canada's History magazine.