This book contains a collection of essays on the subject of women, sport, and society. Literature on this topic is reviewed from the feminist viewpoint. The prologue offers a history of women's participation in sports from ancient Greece to the present. The essential thesis is advanced that, over the centuries, social norms have permitted sport for a few women but discouraged or denied the experience for most. The book is divided into two parts. In part one, women's sport is examined within a sociological framework, with articles on misconceptions about the female body, sex stereotyping, and attitudes toward achievement in sport on the part of women. The future of women in sports is the subject of the second part. Federal civil rights legislation and the ramifications of the Equal Rights Amendment are discussed within the context of today's changing social attitudes. (JD)