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She's a Knockout!: A History of Women in Fighting Sports
Women’s fighting sports have a rich and storied history. As far back as the eighteenth century, female fighters battled at varying levels, from county fairs to elite events. With new opportunities to compete in legitimate arenas—from the Olympics and the Golden Gloves to wrestling tournaments and Ultimate Fighting Championships—women are now able to fight in ways their predecessors never could. And though women today still often face the same derision their predecessors faced, their fortitude and determination has earned them respect from much of the fighting community.
In She’s a Knockout!: A History of Women in Fighting Sports, L.A. Jennings chronicles the stories of these strong and resilient women—including wrestlers, mixed martial arts competitors, and boxers—and the different issues they have encountered. Throughout the narrative, Jennings situates the stories of the female fighters in the culture of their time, revealing how women were often seen as objects of spectacle and ridicule before finally garnering admiration in the fighting world. The women featured in this book include England’s “Championess” Elizabeth Stokes of the 1720s, American wrestler Cora Livingstone in the 1930s, and early MMA great Debi Purcell in the 2000s.
Featuring historical and contemporary photographs and exclusive interviews with professional fighters, this book delivers an in-depth look into the struggles and triumphs of female fighters. Fans of fighting sports, sports historians, and those interested in the history of women in sports will find this a fascinating and illuminating read.
In She’s a Knockout!: A History of Women in Fighting Sports, L.A. Jennings chronicles the stories of these strong and resilient women—including wrestlers, mixed martial arts competitors, and boxers—and the different issues they have encountered. Throughout the narrative, Jennings situates the stories of the female fighters in the culture of their time, revealing how women were often seen as objects of spectacle and ridicule before finally garnering admiration in the fighting world. The women featured in this book include England’s “Championess” Elizabeth Stokes of the 1720s, American wrestler Cora Livingstone in the 1930s, and early MMA great Debi Purcell in the 2000s.
Featuring historical and contemporary photographs and exclusive interviews with professional fighters, this book delivers an in-depth look into the struggles and triumphs of female fighters. Fans of fighting sports, sports historians, and those interested in the history of women in sports will find this a fascinating and illuminating read.
- GenresSportsNonfictionHistory
222 pages, Hardcover
First published October 23, 2014
42 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Jennings
2 books4 followersL.A. Jennings is a Media Studies professor specializing in Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, and history. She published her first book, She’s a Knockout! a History of Women in Fighting Sports, with Rowman and Littlefield in 2013, and is the owner and head striking coach of Train.Fight.Win. MMA in Denver, Colorado.
L.A. holds a Doctorate in Literary Studies from the University of Denver, and B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Florida State University.
She has been interviewed by NPR, The Economist, Cosmopolitan, and the HISTORY channel as an expert on the history and culture of MMA, and regularly contributes to VICE SPORTS on fighting sports history and issues of gender in the world of MMA.
L.A. holds a Doctorate in Literary Studies from the University of Denver, and B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Florida State University.
She has been interviewed by NPR, The Economist, Cosmopolitan, and the HISTORY channel as an expert on the history and culture of MMA, and regularly contributes to VICE SPORTS on fighting sports history and issues of gender in the world of MMA.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 3, 2015
As an avid reader, librarian, and practitioner of martial arts (taekwondo and Muay Thai), I’m undeniably the target audience for L.A. Jennings’s new book She’s a Knockout!: A History of Women in Fighting Sports. That said, I think the topic is a unique one that would appeal to others outside of the lady fighter club.
Jennings, a scholar and fighter disheartened by the lack of focus on women in pugilistic pursuits, presents a thorough look at the participation of women in boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts from the 1700s to the present—all activities that were frowned upon until only very recently. Though the introduction is a bit long, the rest of the book moves along at a good clip and presents a lot of fascinating information. Even though I am a fighter myself, there was a lot that I didn’t know about my sport of choice. Did you know, for instance, that women could be arrested for sparring? Or that doctors used to believe that women could develop cancer if they were struck too hard?
We have come a long way from the arrests of the 1700s, but I didn’t realize just how far we have to go to earn equality in the ring. Did you know that women’s boxing was only just added to the Olympic Games a few years ago in 2012? And that originally the boxing commission wanted to make the female Olympians wear miniskirts as part of their uniform?
I never realized how privileged I am to be allowed to practice fighting sports (and to wear pants while doing so), and I now know a lot more about my hobby. To trailblazers like Bruisin’ Peg, Elizabeth Stokes, Debi Purcell, Cora Livingstone, Ronda Rousey, and to the author who brought them to my attention, I thank you for the right to fight.
Jennings, a scholar and fighter disheartened by the lack of focus on women in pugilistic pursuits, presents a thorough look at the participation of women in boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts from the 1700s to the present—all activities that were frowned upon until only very recently. Though the introduction is a bit long, the rest of the book moves along at a good clip and presents a lot of fascinating information. Even though I am a fighter myself, there was a lot that I didn’t know about my sport of choice. Did you know, for instance, that women could be arrested for sparring? Or that doctors used to believe that women could develop cancer if they were struck too hard?
We have come a long way from the arrests of the 1700s, but I didn’t realize just how far we have to go to earn equality in the ring. Did you know that women’s boxing was only just added to the Olympic Games a few years ago in 2012? And that originally the boxing commission wanted to make the female Olympians wear miniskirts as part of their uniform?
I never realized how privileged I am to be allowed to practice fighting sports (and to wear pants while doing so), and I now know a lot more about my hobby. To trailblazers like Bruisin’ Peg, Elizabeth Stokes, Debi Purcell, Cora Livingstone, Ronda Rousey, and to the author who brought them to my attention, I thank you for the right to fight.
December 21, 2022
Everyone who fights or grapples professionally or recreationally should read this. Same, if you follow UFC stuff. Women feel like a minority in the sport, marginalized in all respects, but we've been there since the beginning, getting arrested, taking risks - it's time that history was recognized a bit more.
August 6, 2019
I wanted to like this because it's a cool subject but the writing style is very dull
December 1, 2014
Author
L.A. Jennings
Publication Date
December 1, 2014
Synopsis
A look at the history of women's participation in combat sports.
High Points
Jennings has written a highly academic, yet entertaining piece chronicling women and their struggles and successes in the fighting sports. This is a treat for anyone interested in gender issues as it covers much more than just the lack of opportunity in sports, but as many of the everyday issues facing women in the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth century as well as women today.
Low Points
The expanded introduction makes some of the material and ideas seem a bit redundant. A bulk of the introduction could have been omitted for conciseness. My main point of contention is the title. While Jennings argues that a woman's look should have no bearing on her physical prowess, she still alludes to it in the title itself. Maybe I'm just being nit-picky.
You'll love it if...
...you are a women's studies major. ...you are interested in women's combat sports. ...you need supporting material to destroy the sexiest douche at the bar complaining about how WMMA is ruining the UFC.
Overall
3.5 Stars
E-Galley received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. For more reviews by the Readist, please visit www.thereadist.com.
L.A. Jennings
Publication Date
December 1, 2014
Synopsis
A look at the history of women's participation in combat sports.
High Points
Jennings has written a highly academic, yet entertaining piece chronicling women and their struggles and successes in the fighting sports. This is a treat for anyone interested in gender issues as it covers much more than just the lack of opportunity in sports, but as many of the everyday issues facing women in the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth century as well as women today.
Low Points
The expanded introduction makes some of the material and ideas seem a bit redundant. A bulk of the introduction could have been omitted for conciseness. My main point of contention is the title. While Jennings argues that a woman's look should have no bearing on her physical prowess, she still alludes to it in the title itself. Maybe I'm just being nit-picky.
You'll love it if...
...you are a women's studies major. ...you are interested in women's combat sports. ...you need supporting material to destroy the sexiest douche at the bar complaining about how WMMA is ruining the UFC.
Overall
3.5 Stars
E-Galley received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. For more reviews by the Readist, please visit www.thereadist.com.
December 25, 2014
A good review of the history of known women fighters in the US and Great Britain. This book is well researched and well footnoted, dashing several popular myths and building up a better image of the role and perception of women fighters in the last couple centuries (where there is documentation).
This book would be interesting, I think, to any female fighter looking for a broader perspective of her craft and where the journey to be just a "fighter" instead of a "female fighter" stands and where it has come from, or to anyone seeking a more general understanding of the "new" phenomenon of female fighters (spoiler: it's not new ;) ).
This book would be interesting, I think, to any female fighter looking for a broader perspective of her craft and where the journey to be just a "fighter" instead of a "female fighter" stands and where it has come from, or to anyone seeking a more general understanding of the "new" phenomenon of female fighters (spoiler: it's not new ;) ).
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February 6, 2015796.83 J543 2015
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews