20th century women's fitness culture
Opportunities for women flourished as organized sports began to grow in popularity and physical education programs for girls were introduced in schools.
[1] One sport that was introduced in America at the turn of the century was basketball which quickly swept over schools and playgrounds across the nation.
American physical educators, who were viewed as the experts on the topic at the time, strongly objected to women participating in the olympics.
[3] One social and commercial development at the turn of the 20th century was the emergence of a group of female trapeze artists known as “strong women”.
They were at first criticized for opposing societal gender norms, but with the emergence of the cinema they soon became very popular icons for female health.
The very popular 3 minute video shows Vallée swinging through the air, undressing herself while revealing a very muscular upper body.
[citation needed] One of the leading physical educators at the time was Dudley Allen Sargent, his research along with many others came to the conclusion that the ideal body was a slim one.
[8] A greater interest in knowing one's weight and where one ranked according to the norm set by the physical educators of the time emerged as a result.
[9] Weight became a hot topic for public scrutiny as did private organizations effort to intervene and help people achieve the ideal body shape.
In black culture, (similarly to white) women with healthy, fit bodies were associated with being patriotic, comely, trustworthy, and affluent.
[15] During the late 40s special "exercise suits" that resembled swimwear of the time, even began to be offered for the everyday woman's fitness routines.
The article displays pictures of Ogden and other women using the machines on their calves, thighs, ankles, stomach, back and hips to rub away the excess fat on their bodies.
Articles covered exercises aiming to help women improve posture, slim their hips and trim their ankles while not thinning their faces, as well as expand their chest while shrinking their waist and arms.
Some exercises included basic squats with knees together, ballet positions such as holding an arabesque, variations of sit-ups, and repetitions of leg raises.
Life magazine reporter Susan McBee went undercover for the article to learn more about the "fat doctors” and the practice of prescribing diet pills.
Although McBee was far from overweight, she was 5'5” and weighed 125 pounds, each "fat doctor” she saw prescribed her diet pills to help her lose weight.
[22] With the passage of Title IX and a growing feminist movement, women began to hold a more prominent role in exercise, specifically aerobics.
Jacki Sorensen founded Aerobic Dancing Inc. which began as a television program in 1969, and later became a book with audio and videocassette tapes.
Throughout the 70's and 80's more aerobic fitness stars emerged such as Martha Rounds, Debbie Rosas, Nancy Strong, and Gilda Marx.
[citation needed] Following the media transition from videocassettes to CDs, DVD, and internet, interactive fitness programs emerge.
Furthermore, in 2012 the group CHAARG (changing health attitudes to recreate girls) was founded in response to the large percentage of women who felt uncomfortable in a fitness setting.
