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Lady Ref: Making Calls in a Man's World
The eye-opening and inspiring memoir of Shannon Eastin, the first female official for the NFL
Shannon Eastin was used to breaking new ground. As a teenager, she was a six-time national judo champion before women were allowed to compete in her sport in the Olympics. Years later, she was the first woman to referee Division I football. But when she set her sights on officiating in the NFL, nothing could fully prepare her for the obstacles that would be thrown in her way.
In Lady Ref: Making Calls in a Man's World, Eastin candidly shares the struggles she faced throughout her journey to the pros. Dealing with sexual harassment, apparent sabotage, and blatant misogyny, there were times Eastin wondered if it was worth it, if perhaps it would be better to quit. But a return to her faith would ultimately help her hold onto her dreams, and when the full-time NFL officials were locked out, Eastin found her opening into the pros.
Eastin's cap and whistle now rest in the NFL Hall of Fame, a testament to the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice that went into her groundbreaking rise up the officiating ranks. Her eye-opening story reflects the relentless battles women have fought--and continue to fight--working in fields often perceived as a man's domain, while also celebrating those who have supported these trailblazers in their journeys.
Shannon Eastin was used to breaking new ground. As a teenager, she was a six-time national judo champion before women were allowed to compete in her sport in the Olympics. Years later, she was the first woman to referee Division I football. But when she set her sights on officiating in the NFL, nothing could fully prepare her for the obstacles that would be thrown in her way.
In Lady Ref: Making Calls in a Man's World, Eastin candidly shares the struggles she faced throughout her journey to the pros. Dealing with sexual harassment, apparent sabotage, and blatant misogyny, there were times Eastin wondered if it was worth it, if perhaps it would be better to quit. But a return to her faith would ultimately help her hold onto her dreams, and when the full-time NFL officials were locked out, Eastin found her opening into the pros.
Eastin's cap and whistle now rest in the NFL Hall of Fame, a testament to the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice that went into her groundbreaking rise up the officiating ranks. Her eye-opening story reflects the relentless battles women have fought--and continue to fight--working in fields often perceived as a man's domain, while also celebrating those who have supported these trailblazers in their journeys.
- GenresMemoir
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 23, 2023
Shannon Eastin is a trailblazer in the world of sports officiating, breaking barriers, overcoming obstacles, and carving a path for herself in male-dominated spaces.
Lady Ref: Making Calls in a Man’s World delivers reflections on the personal struggles, sexual harassment, and misogyny Eastin faced in her pursuit of becoming an NFL referee. This is a densely-packed, detailed read from childhood forward, including her triumph as a champion in Judo.
While the bones exist for an engaging story, unfortunately Lady Ref reads less like a memoir and more like a transcript from dictation software. The lack of careful editing and narrative structure cuts off the ability to emotionally invest and results in a unsatisfying reader experience.
This is not to say that Eastin herself isn’t compelling. More that a co-writer’s job is to take a volume of experiences, anecdotes, and facts from their subject and break it down to the essentials. Which experiences in Eastin’s past gave meaning and context to her present career?
Digging into a few carefully curated stories would show the internal struggle and external conflict. Instead, this is stuck in a resume of “And then this happened…” achievements which rarely dig beneath the surface. The most triumphant and controversial moment of Eastin’s career as a strikebreaker merits a few scant paragraphs and some vague hand-waving – a significant missed opportunity.
Despite its shortcomings, the memoir does illuminate the battles women face in professional sports. Perhaps with a second pass that focuses on strong and effective storytelling, Eastin's resilience and determination can shine.
––––––––––
Thank you to NetGalley and Rowman & Littlefield for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication date Sept 13th, 2023.
Lady Ref: Making Calls in a Man’s World delivers reflections on the personal struggles, sexual harassment, and misogyny Eastin faced in her pursuit of becoming an NFL referee. This is a densely-packed, detailed read from childhood forward, including her triumph as a champion in Judo.
While the bones exist for an engaging story, unfortunately Lady Ref reads less like a memoir and more like a transcript from dictation software. The lack of careful editing and narrative structure cuts off the ability to emotionally invest and results in a unsatisfying reader experience.
This is not to say that Eastin herself isn’t compelling. More that a co-writer’s job is to take a volume of experiences, anecdotes, and facts from their subject and break it down to the essentials. Which experiences in Eastin’s past gave meaning and context to her present career?
Digging into a few carefully curated stories would show the internal struggle and external conflict. Instead, this is stuck in a resume of “And then this happened…” achievements which rarely dig beneath the surface. The most triumphant and controversial moment of Eastin’s career as a strikebreaker merits a few scant paragraphs and some vague hand-waving – a significant missed opportunity.
Despite its shortcomings, the memoir does illuminate the battles women face in professional sports. Perhaps with a second pass that focuses on strong and effective storytelling, Eastin's resilience and determination can shine.
––––––––––
Thank you to NetGalley and Rowman & Littlefield for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication date Sept 13th, 2023.
November 1, 2023
I am probably biased.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews