Women's sporting lives: a biographical study of elite amateur tennis players at Wimbledon

222 Pages·2011·0.7 MB·English

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES
School of Education
Women’s Sporting Lives: A biographical study of elite amateur tennis
players at Wimbledon
by
Janine van Someren
Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
December 2010

ABSTRACT
The history of amateur tennis pre and post the Second World War is dominated by the
sporting biographies of male players with women’s stories largely ignored. This
research addressed the issue of women tennis players’ marginalisation through a
biographical analysis of the women’s amateur circuit with particular emphasis on the
previously untold story of four British tennis players: Mrs. Phyllis King (née Mudford,
who competed at the Wimbledon Championships 1928-1953), Mrs. Joan Hughesman
(née Curry, Wimbledon 1939-1960), Mrs. Joy Michelle (née Hibbert, Wimbledon 1947-
1957), Mrs. Christine Janes (née Truman, Wimbledon 1957-1974). The lives of the
women were investigated utilising biographical methods of life story interviews and
analysis of life documents including published biographies and archival and media
sources.
Gender and social class emerged as key themes which were explored through the
microcosm of women’s tennis shedding new light on a wide range of issues from the
influence of family, gender role expectations and life on the amateur tennis circuit. The
findings reveal the significance of fashion in British tennis whereby it is argued that
choice of clothing was a form of gender compliance. Further to this the contributions
of fashion designer Teddy Tinling is recognised as a key factor in changing the shape
of women’s tennis post the Second World War. The research reveals the key role sport
played in shaping the women’s identity from the onset of their playing careers through
to their retirement from sport.
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Contents
Chapter 1: Women’s Sporting Lives
Introduction 1
My sporting life 3
Outline of the thesis 4
Chapter 2: Getting Involved in Women’s Tennis
Introduction 8
Perceptions of female tennis players 9
The emergence of lawn tennis clubs 13
Tennis coaching and the “Ladies” game 16
School sport and women’s tennis 20
Tennis in the family 23
Women’s changing role 24
Concluding remarks 26
Chapter 3: The Amateur Tennis Circuit
Introduction 28
Amateurtennis 29
The tennis circuit for women 32
The ‘shamateur’ amateur 39
Women’s tennis fashion 43
Amateur tennis to ‘Open’ tennis 53
Concluding remarks and clarification of the research questions 55
Chapter 4: Researching Women’s Sporting Lives
Introduction 57
Biographical research 58
Discovery of the players 59
Meeting the players: The interview process 62
Analysing life story interviews 66
Life documents and women’s sporting lives 68
Trustworthiness of findings 70
Trustworthiness and memory 73
Concluding remarks 76
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Chapter 5: Pen Portraits
Introduction 78
Mrs. Phyllis King née Mudford (Wimbledon 1928-1953) 80
Mrs. Joan Hughesman née Curry (Wimbledon 1939-1960) 87
Mrs. Joy Michelle née Hibbert (Wimbledon 1947-1957) 93
Mrs. Christine Janes née Truman (Wimbledon 1957-1974) 98
Concluding remarks 110
Chapter 6: The Road to Wimbledon
Introduction 111
Early sporting lives 112
Participation in other sports 114
Tennis coaching 117
School sport 120
Junior tennis tournaments 123
Recognition from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) 125
Transition to senior tennis 128
Tennis and gender role expectations 130
Concluding remarks 133
Chapter 7: From Amateurism to Shamateurism
Introduction 134
Memories of Wimbledon 135
Life as an amateur player 138
Tennis training on the women’s tour 142
Gender differences on the tennis circuit 143
Travelling on the amateur circuit 146
Camaraderie on the tour 148
Hollywood stars and tennis players 150
Influence of the Second World War on amateur tennis 152
Feminine versus athletic identity and women tennis players 154
Changing tennis fashions 157
Tennis fashions following the Second World War 158
Influence of Teddy Tinling 159
Media coverage on the women’s tour 161
Turning points in the player’s careers 165
Influence of tennis on identity upon retirement 167
Concluding comments 168
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Chapter 8: Conclusion: Aces, Places and Faults
Overview 170
Key features of the study 171
Reflection on the data collection of the women’s sporting lives 172
Reflection on the analysis of the women’s sporting lives 173
Reshaping the story 174
Reflection on trustworthiness of the women’s stories 174
The Keeper of Stories: Reflections on the role of the researcher 176
References 178
Appendices
Appendix 1: Sample letter to players 194
Appendix 2: Information sheet and consent form 196
Appendix 3: Interview schedule for Christine Janes née Truman 198
Appendix 4: Sample interview summary with reflections and field notes 202
Appendix 5: Sample interview summary based on the interview with Joy Michele 203
Appendix 6: Sample of raw data themes 204
Appendix 7: Sample of raw data themes to general dimensions 205
Appendix 8: List of biographies and autobiographies analysed 206
Appendix 9: Raw data themes from biographical text analysis 209
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List of figures
Fig. 1 Sample of Christine Truman’s biography catalogued using Mindjet
MindManager 70
Fig. 2 Sample of Mindjet MindManager used to track developments in women’s
tennis fashions 70
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DECLARATION OF AUTHORSHIP
I, Janine van Someren
declare that the thesis entitled
Women’s Sporting Lives: A biographical study of elite amateur tennis players at
Wimbledon
and the work presented in the thesis are both my own, and have been generated by me
as the result of my own original research. I confirm that:
 this work was done wholly or mainly while in candidature for a research degree at
this University;
 where any part of this thesis has previously been submitted for a degree or any
other qualification at this University or any other institution, this has been clearly
stated;
 where I have consulted the published work of others, this is always clearly
attributed;
 where I have quoted from the work of others, the source is always given. With the
exception of such quotations, this thesis is entirely my own work;
 I have acknowledged all main sources of help;
 where the thesis is based on work done by myself jointly with others, I have made
clear exactly what was done by others and what I have contributed myself;
 part of this work have been published as:
van Someren, J. (2008). White Ladies: The Dressing of Elite Amateur Players at Wimbledon
(1884-1968). Auto/Biography Yearbook 2008. 50-68.
Signed: ………………………………………………………………………..
Date:…………………………………………………………………………….
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