Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Tuesday, July 15
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    10-4 Magazine
    • About
      • About 10-4
      • Contact
      • Our Advertisers
    • Subscribe
    • Calendar
    • Galleries
      • Centerfolds
      • Covers
    • Fun
      • Truckertoons
      • Words To Live By
    • Studio 10-4 LIVE!
    • TFK Truck Show
    • Trucker Rodeo
    10-4 Magazine
    You are at:Home»Words of Wisdom»The Battle Of The Sexes
    Words of Wisdom

    The Battle Of The Sexes

    By SharLeighSeptember 1, 2022No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email LinkedIn
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    There has always been a competition between the sexes since Adam and Eve.  But it seemed to have come to a head on September 20, 1973.  That is when tennis pros Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs held a tennis event called “The Battle of the Sexes” on television.  It was so monumental, they even made a movie about it in 2017.  It started with Bobby – he was the number one tennis pro in the 1930s and 1940s.  Bobby was a hustler and a con man.  He always thought that a woman was much weaker than a man and unable to perform as a professional sports figure.  Unfortunately, at that time, many people felt that way.  He was willing to play against any top seated women’s tennis player, even though he was 55 years old.  He was confident he would win easily.  Bobby knew how to heckle a player and throw them off their game.  The first match was with a top player named Margaret Court, and he did win.  He was on a roll and tried to set up another match, this time with Billie Jean King, who knew there was much riding on the match.  Professional women players did not make much money.  If she won, then she would be able to boost the popularity of women’s sports.  If she lost, it could set women’s sports back 50 years.  There was a lot on her shoulders.  In Billie Jean’s words, she said, “I’m taking the match seriously.  I love to win.  I welcome the responsibility and the pressure.  Bobby had better be ready.”  When the match aired on that fateful day, 50 million people watched on their televisions all around the world.  At the start of the event, Billie Jean came out riding on a litter like Cleopatra, being pulled by men, and Bobby came out on a rickshaw, pulled by women (it was quite the media spectacle).  The famed Howard Cosell called the match.  Everything was fun until the game began.  Both players were top notch, but Billie Jean won 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.  Billie Jean King was an advocate for equal pay for women athletes and her recognition in this match and promoting women’s rights extended, eventually, to the workplace and gender equality.  From the 1964 Civil Rights Act that did not mention gender discrimination to the 1972 Title IX law that did acknowledge discrimination, it is amazing to see just how long it took us to correct a wrong.  The same is true now.  It takes time and patience.  We are still changing our ways to correct and improve life.  It does take determination, so do not give up – we have to keep striving to be better until we succeed.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleFor A Good Cause
    Next Article Good At It!
    SharLeigh

    SharLeigh has an inquisitive nature – she is interested in current events, history, science and many more subjects, including things that go bump in the night! Since 1997, SharLeigh has scoured the internet, looking for interesting, fun and timely topics covering all sorts of human-interest subjects for her articles from her home in Fontana, CA.

    Related Posts

    Into The Granny Lane

    February 1, 2024

    Looking Forward & Back

    January 1, 2024

    Harsh Times Made Right

    December 1, 2023
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    12 ga Customs
    Pacific Coast Insurance picture
    Grand General

    Empire

    10-4 Magazine Swag from Stay Loaded
    Get your 10-4 Gear!
    Archived Editions by Category
    Older 10-4 Archives
    Articles Prior to 2011
    Archives by Edition
    Copyright © 2025. All Images and content on this site are protected by copyright laws, but 10-4 Magazine gives viewers the right to download images or text for personal use. Simply click on most images to access a higher resolution image for viewing and/or downloanding. For commercial uses, call for permission.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.