Asian Women in Sport

Beginning of article

It did not take me long to realize that information about Asian women in sport was scarce. In fact, as I surveyed the literature, much of the research done in the early 1960s and 1970s seemed to center around the physiological and biomechanical concerns of the white female athlete. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was a shift in research, and more studies dealt with the psychological and sociological characteristics of elite female athletes. Thus, I am writing this article primarily from personal feelings, opinions, and background.

Celebrating the Past

As an Asian American growing up in the United States, the cultural differences were quite evident as I attended regular grade school during the week and spent Saturdays and Sundays at "Chinese School," where I was reminded of the ways of my elders and schooled in the many customs and traditions of our culture.

Sport was not a widely accepted nor understood concept in our household, especially as it pertained to females. It was acceptable as a way to have fun, but not really understood or accepted as a career choice. My interest in sport was due primarily to the teaching and mentoring of my high school physical education teacher. Her obvious love and dedication for what she was doing was evident in her coaching and instruction. As many of you know, athletics in the early sixties for girls and women were a far cry from what we know today. In high school I was fortunate to be able to compete under good coaching …