"THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!!!" Real Wild Women

‘A League of Their Own’ is a great example of some “wild women” making their way in the world. This movie is about women during World War II who were asked to join the new “All-American Girls Professional Baseball League”. It follows two sisters, Dottie and Kit, who both make it onto the team the Rockford Peaches after trying out. Dottie is reluctant to leave home since her husband is away at war but Kit convinces her she has to live for herself until he comes home. Kit is raring to tryout but Dottie is the only one invited to tryout. Kit convinces the guy to give her a chance and he tells her he will as long as she makes Dottie come too. Once the girls are on the team they face many obstacles such as being sexualized in tiny uniforms and forced to go to beauty school to ensure they look good while playing. The small crowds that come to watch them play harass them and make fun of their ability to play. They must face many stereotypes about women while staying on top of their game, and all with lipstick on!

As discussed in ‘Seduction and Betrayal in the Heartland’ “patriarchal authority… takes the form of a rejection of oppressive masculine protectionism” (Boozer 211). With most men at war, women cast off their former oppression and stepped into places they had never been allowed. Before the men had been in these places and there was “no room” for women. But with the men gone, women stepped in to fill their shoes. “…nothing is more threatening to patriarchal conventions than a woman who resorts to the tools of aggressive defiance” (Boozer 210). In the film, many of the men feel threatened by these women baseball players. Their coach doesn’t believe the girls are “real ballplayers” and sleeps or reads through their games. The crowd jeers at them, putting down their abilities. But these women hold their heads up high and play some mean ball despite all of this. They defy the odds stacked against them by those who doubt them.

While ‘A League of Their Own’ may not represent ‘wild women’ in the same exact terms as Thelma and Louise, it certainly represents strong women who pursue what they want. This film shows how women changed and shaped societies views of the female sex during this era. It was not previously socially acceptable for women to play organized sports on professional teams. But while the men are away, the women must play; and that they certainly did. These women go after what they want even though it is not the social norm. Eventually they make it acceptable, through their irrepressible spirits and determination to be treated equally to men.