Dick Kerr's Ladies 1917-1926: An historical geography dissertation

Abstract

This dissertation argues that football field provided the physical location whereby traditional views regarding women’s bodies, and women’s place and role in society, confronted modern views, intensified by four years of war. The traditionalists, spurred by patriotism, argued that women’s bodies were too weak and would be damaged by playing football. They felt that women’s role was in the home and to see them playing football was ‘disgraceful’. The modernists, and the footballers, felt that football caused no more harm to women than men and that they should be allowed to carry on playing. Four years of respite from the patriarchal society that the war afforded and the increased employment associated, resulted in many feeling liberated. Women’s football provides just an example of this mindset and this is explored in the study.
Archival materials mainly consisting of newspaper articles and photographs, but not limited to cartoon strips and match day programmes, were explored to analyse the Dick, Kerr’s Ladies. The study builds on work on the body and women’s place in society, using a range of modern geographical theory and cultural historical knowledge to meet the dissertations aims.