Title
Sport, physical education and the ideal girl in selected Ontario denominational schools, 1870-1930.
Date of Award
1990
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Department
History
First Advisor
McCrone, K. E.,
Keywords
Education, History of.
Rights
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine how sport and physical activity both helped to create and restrict the "Ideal Girl" at selected Ontario denominational schools between 1870 and 1930. The denominational-boarding school setting was useful for examining the relationship between the sport and physical education of upper-and-middle-class girls and their prescribed role within a patriarchal society as the heads of these schools took great pride in "their girls," and attempted to inculcate values as well as academic and physical achievement. The general conclusions were the same for all dominations: femininity was always an important criterion where girls' sport was concerned, but became less significant as time progressed. Good health was a major factor motivating physical education. Character building through sport was also important, particularly at the Anglican schools. This was not related to a leadership role for women, but rather to their continuing function as the moral arbiters of society. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of History, Philosophy, and Political Science. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1990 .O434. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 30-03, page: 0441. Chair: K. E. McCrone. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1990.
Recommended Citation
Olafson, Pauline., "Sport, physical education and the ideal girl in selected Ontario denominational schools, 1870-1930." (1990). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3566.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/3566