Cowgirls of the Rodeo: PIONEER PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES (Sport and Society) [Paperback]

Mary LeCompte (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1999 | Series: Sport and Society

"In this first substantial study of rodeo women, Mary Lou Lecompte surveys the early rodeo cowgirls' achievements as professional athletes, the near demise of women's rodeo events during World War II, and the phenomenal success of the Women's Professional Rodeo Association in regaining lost ground for rodeo cowgirls. Recalling an extraordinary chapter in women's history as well as the history of American sport, "Cowgirls of the Rodeo" contributes to a deeper understanding of the challenges facing women in the American West and in American sport."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

LeCompte, a professor of kinesiology and health education at the University of Texas, shows just how revolutionary women's rodeo riding was at its start, for it was the only sport in which they competed head-to-head with males. Professional rodeo began in 1882 and the first women participated at the Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1897. These pioneers had almost all been raised on ranches where they had been expected to do "men's work." Their golden age in rodeo spanned 1919-1929, but with the founding of the Cowboys Turtle Association in 1936, women began to encounter sexism, which grew during World War II and in the rodeos staged under the aegis of Gene Autry. In 1948 the Women's Professional Rodeo Association was established and, while women's rodeo events are still more or less separate, the prize money available to them in 1990 reached $2 million. A first-rate work of scholarship. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"This welcome source offers a fresh look at the history of women's professional rodeo... [LeCompte] combines biographical information about many of the important women who contributed to women's rodeo with the history of women's participation in this sport... Interesting and informative." -- Choice "Outstanding ... A forceful and multilayered statement about women in American history." -- Anne M. Butler, American Studies "A first-rate work of scholarship." -- Publishers Weekly "The cowgirls in this book are not Dale Evans, Miss Kitty, or Audra Barkley. They are the real thing, and Mary Lou LeCompte's book is much more interesting for it." -- Feminist Collections "In an age when feminist discourse tends to be buttoned up and serious, Cowgirls of the Rodeo is a lively social history that captures the unbridled exhilaration of freedom." -- Elizabeth Judd, Welcomat "LeCompte raises interesting issues about the place of women in athletics, and the experiences of women growing up on ranches... An important addition to the history of the western United States." -- Virginia S. Jenkins, American Studies International ADVANCE PRAISE "Get ready for a great ride! Rodeo fans and others will find the lives and careers of these brave, pioneering cowgirls captivating." -- Richard W. Slatta, author of Cowboys of the Americas "Fills a major void in the literature on western women... Well researched and gracefully written." -- Glenda Riley, author of The Female Frontier: A Comparative View of Women on the Prairie and the Plains

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press (October 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0252068742
• ISBN-13: 978-0252068744
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #568,653 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Rodeos
  • #62 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Women in Sports

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5.0 out of 5 stars Cowgirls, February 21, 2012

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Lea R. Torres "cherokeetorres" (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cowgirls of the Rodeo: PIONEER PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES (Sport and Society) (Paperback)

I did not read this book, as it was a birthday present for a very dear friend of mine. She loved it and mentions it every time I see her. If you have an interest in rodeo, the ladies that partcipate, and their histories, please purchase this book.