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Upcoming Event: Feminist Film Friday

By Megan Schwindler

The Event

End your week watching a movie and enjoying some free pizza and snacks with the staff at the Women’s Center. The event will be held on Friday, March 9 from 12-2 p.m. at the UMKC Women’s Center, 105 Haag Hall.

Make sure to RSVP to womens-center@umkc.edu or 816-235-1638 by March 7.

About Battle of the Sexes

After the sexual revolution and rise of the women’s movement, the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs was coined, “Battle of the Sexes” and “became one of the most televised sports events of all time, reaching 90 million viewers around the world.”

“As the rivalry between King and Riggs kicked into high gear, off-court each was fighting more personal and complex battles.  The fiercely private King was not only championing for equality, but also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, as her friendship with Marilyn Barnett developed.  And Riggs, one of the first self-made media-age celebrities, wrestled with his gambling demons, at the expense of his family and wife Priscilla. Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the tennis court, sparking discussions in bedrooms and boardrooms that continue to reverberate today.” You can follow this link to watch the trailer.

This movie shows that equality can only be achieved by men and women working together. It also serves as a reminder that feminism is not about beating or hating men, it’s about having the same opportunities and respect as men. As Billie Jean King put it, “That’s the way I want the world to look: men and women working together, championing each other, helping each other, promoting each other—we’re all in this world together.” After retiring in 1990, she was named to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987, and served as captain of the U.S. Olypmic team at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics. She also earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.