Audra Hampsch Prof. Blake Intro to Film Art 2 November 2013 Women’s Health magazine targets female athletes who desire to be leaders and competitors in women’s fitness and athletic training. There’s No Crying in Baseball: Female Empowerment in A League of Their Own From 1943 to 1954, females fled the comfort of their own kitchen to dominate the professional baseball league while their husbands were fighting World War II. Historically, this era in our country’s past designates the beginning of female empowerment in athletics.1 In its one hundred and twenty- eight minute span, A League of Their Own—directed by Penny Marshall, starring Tom Hanks— illustrates this development of powerful female figures in sports. This dramatic comedy captures the humble, talented beaut, Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis), and her stubborn kid sister, Kit Keller (Lori Petty), as they struggle both on and off the baseball field.2 Dottie was recruited to play in the All- American Girls Professional Baseball League, but refused to try out. Reluctantly, she accepts the invitation only so Kit—who wasn’t invited—could have an opportunity as well. This initial exchange between the sisters highlights their tense relationship that frames the rest of the movie: Kit constantly struggles to live up to Dottie’s talent.3 While in the league, Dottie, Kit, and many other Rockford Peaches such as Doris Murphy (Rosie O’Donnell), “All-the-Way Mae” (Madonna), “Betty Spaghetti” (Tracy Reiner), and Evelyn Gardner (Bitty Schram) struggle to attract support for the AAGPBL due to their tom-boyish personalities and rough-and-tough attitudes. As Marshall correctly depicted in the film, the 1940s American society refused to acknowledge women on the field, and rather idolized them for their appearance. She establishes this opinion with the use of many noir blurbs and commercials throughout 1 Lesko, Jeneane. "League History." Official Website of the AAGPBL. All American Girls Professional Baseball League Players Association, 24 May 2013. Web. 5 Nov 2013. 2 "A League of Their Own." (1992): International Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 5 Nov 2013. 3 Canby, Vincent. "A League of Their Own." New York Times 1 July 1992, Weekend Ed. Web. 5 Nov. 2013. the story, which play into the historical aspect of the plot as well. Marla Hooch (Megan Cavanagh) is the film’s largest example. Despite having unbelievable batting skills, Marla was initially rejected by baseball recruiters due to her ugly appearance. Managers in the AAGPBL also feared that women playing baseball would masculinize them, so every player in the league was forced to attend charm school, where they would learn proper posture, etiquette, and femininity. Despite this criticism of the role of women in American society, Marshall offers a harsher, dirtier vision of the male. Baseball hero, Jimmy Duggan (Tom Hanks), steps in to manage the Rockford Peaches as a careless, tobacco-chewing, alcoholic slob believing that girls can’t play baseball. When Evelyn’s naiveté and sensitivity reduce her to tears Jimmy screams, “There’s no crying in baseball!” This event draws the figurative line between men and women in sports, along with their respective stereotypes and dogmas. Although he does make a positive transformation over the course of the film, Jimmy Duggan’s initial image remains a comment on gender relationships at the time. Other men in the film, such as Ernie Capadino (Jon Lovitz) and Ira Lowenstein (David Strathairn), serve as selfish business owners whose sole concern is always money. Dottie’s husband, Bob Hinson (Bill Pullman) who suffered an injury to be discharged from the war, seems to be the only male who genuinely cares for women and their abilities.4 Overall, A League of Their Own portrays not only a sister rivalry that appeals to the family audience, but also—in the grand scheme of things—a gender conflict, appealing to women across the globe. For women who originally found difficulty in ascertaining themselves, baseball was a tool to find power in the male-dominated 1940s society. Penny Marshall successfully utilizes this historic moment to bring to life female empowerment in athletics. Whether you’re a prominent female athlete, a sports enthusiast, a frustrated sister, or even a history buff, A League of Their Own is an enjoyable, must-see movie! 4 Anderson, Melissa. "A League of Their Own." Village Voice 54.14 (2009): 46. International Index to Performing Arts. Web. 5 Nov 2013. Works Cited Lesko, Jeneane. "League History." Official Website of the AAGPBL. All American Girls Professional Baseball League Players Association, 24 May 2013. Web. 5 Nov 2013. "A League of Their Own." (1992): Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 5 Nov 2013. Alleva, Richard. "A League of Their Own." Commonweal 119.15 (1992): 41. Academic OneFile. Web. 5 Nov 2013. Canby, Vincent. "A League of Their Own." New York Times 1 July 1992, Weekend Ed. n. pag. Web. 5 Nov. 2013. Anderson, Melissa. "A League of Their Own." Village Voice 54.14 (2009): 46. International Index to Performing Arts. Web. 5 Nov 2013. Cahn, Susan K. (1995). Coming on strong: gender and sexuality in twentieth-century women's sport. Harvard University Press. Web. 5 Nov 2013. "A League of Their Own, Jimmy Duggan." (2006): Monologuedb. Web. 5 Nov 2013..