Quote by Jackie Joyner-Kersee
When I was in elementary school, we weren't allowed to do sports other than cheerleading. By junior high, they let us play, but we had to come back after 6:30 p.m. to practice because there was only one gymnasium and the boys used it first.
Summary
This quote highlights the gender inequality that the speaker experienced during their school years. In elementary school, sports were limited to cheerleading for girls, thereby excluding them from other athletic activities. Even in junior high, when girls were given the chance to participate in sports, they faced additional inconvenience, as they had to practice in the evening after the boys had finished using the gymnasium. The quote sheds light on how institutionalized gender biases influenced the opportunities and treatment provided to girls in the school's sports program.