Eileen Crockart
Eileen Crockart (born c. 1910s) was a South African track and field athlete specialized in the field events. She was also a swimmer. She represented South Africa internationally in athletics.[1] She was one of the earliest people to raise the gender identity issue in women’s athletics.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | South African |
| Born | c. 1910s |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track and field athletics Swimming |
| Event(s) | Field events |
Career
changeAs a swimmer, Crockart competed at the 1928 South African Swimming Championships in Johannesburg.[2]
As a track and field athlete, Crockart competed in the field events at the 1934 Women's World Games in London. She was most successfull in the shot put event where she finished in sixth place in the final.[3][4]
Gender identity debate
changeIn the era that Crockett was active, women’s athletics was raising and had to deal to deal with gender identity problems. Many women of that era later turned out to be man.[5] Crockart was one of the earliest people to openly raise the issue. She stated that “quite a few women athletes had strong hair like men and had to shave daily”. She added her human trust but disbelief with “we satisfied ourselves that they were female all right, but in every other respect, I would call them more man than woman”. Mr. B.C. Sims, manager of the South African team, complained about it. The German media replied to the allegation with “grotesque slander”. Canadian women laughed about it.[6][7][8]
References
change- ↑ Steenkamp, R. (2019). "An exploration of the factors contributing to gender inequality in athletics participation and leadership" (PDF). repository.up.ac.za (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 June 2022.
- ↑ "South African Swimming Championships 1928 - Johannesburg". South African Aquatic Sport History. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ↑ "De werdeldspelen voor vrouwen". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 10 August 1934. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via Delpher.
- ↑ "De wereldspelen voor vrouwen". Rotterdamsch nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 10 August 1934. Retrieved 18 July 2022 – via Delpher.
- ↑ "Remembering Alice Milliat and the Women's World Games 100 years on". Inside the Games. August 2022.
- ↑ "Athlete's Account of London Games". The Canberra Times. 22 September 1934. p. 3 – via trove.nla.gov.au.
- ↑ "MEN—OR WOMEN?". Sunraysia Daily. 22 September 1934. p. 11 – via trove.nla.gov.au.
- ↑ "More man than woman". Adeleide. 22 September 1934. p. 15 – via trove.nla.gov.au.