Mia Hamm helped popularize soccer in the U.S. and inspired a new generation of athletes. Kamau, a student, speaks with Eric Jentsch, curator at our National Museum of American History, about Hamm's legacy.
Sports
Wilma Rudolph, Althea Gibson, Billie Jean King: these iconic women athletes excelled in professional sports before 1972, when Title IX was passed into law, protecting people from being excluded from federal education programs on the basis of sex. Before Title IX, opportunities for women to play sports at school were limited. Since then, participation in sports has grown exponentially. Today there are several major women’s sports leagues in North America, including the Women’s National Basketball Association, the National Women’s Hockey League, and the National Women’s Soccer League.
Collection Objects
Historic photographs and objects reveal the stories of incredible women athletes in our collections.
Conversation Kit
Let's Talk! Cindy Whitehead’s Skateboard Conversation Kit
Cindy Whitehead Teaching and Discussion Guide
Grades 6–12. Time: Variable (1–3 class periods). Aligned to CCSS and C3 standards.
In this lesson plan, students will learn how Cindy Whitehead, a skateboarding pioneer, changed the culture of skateboarding and fought for girls to have greater access to all sports. Students will examine the question: Why does gender equality in sports matter?
Videos
Mildred "Babe" Zaharias Didrikson: boxing star, three-time Olympic medalist, and one of the best women's golf players of all time.
Athlete and activist Billie Jean King talks about fighting for equality. In 2018, she was awarded the National Museum of American History's Great Americans medal.
Smithsonian American Women
Remarkable objects and stories of strength, ingenuity, and vision from the National Collection.
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