Kicking Center

RACHEL ALLISON is an assistant professor of sociology and faculty affiliate of gender studies at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi.

• List of Abbreviations Introduction: Kicking Center                         1    Women's Soccer in the United States                                       2    Business or Cause? Contested Goals                                   3    We're Taking Over! Constructing the Fan Base                   4    Image Politics and Media (In)Visibility                               Conclusion: Kicking Forward?                            AppendicesAcknowledgmentsNotesBibliography                                             Index

"With the 1999 Women's World Cup as her starting point, Rachel Allison traces the complex reasons why a glass ceiling exists on women's advancement in professional sports. She offers a sophisticated, rigorous, and engaging account of how women's sports leagues operate and how women's soccer has been sold in the U.S. Anyone who cares about the future of women's sports should read this book."— Cheryl Cooky, author of No Slam Dunk: Gender, Sport and the Unevenness of Social Change"Kicking Center is an engaging, well-written book. Allison offers just the right mix of academic findings and pop-culture references and provocations. This original work raises important questions and then answers them with vim, precision, and rigor."— Jules Boykoff, author of Activism and the Olympics: Dissent at the Games in Vancouver and London"One of the most comprehensive books on women and sport to come out in recent years....Those working in sport—including and perhaps especially men—to pick up this book and read it with an open mind." — Gender & Society"Despite growing audience, women's soccer still fighting for respect, says journalist," CBC "The Current" interview with Rachel Allisonhttps://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/despite-growing-audience-women-s-soccer-still-fighting-for-respect-says-journalist-1.5166142— CBC "The Current""A Sociological View on Selling Women's Soccer: A Conversation with Dr. Rachel Allison," by RJ Allen— Backline Soccer"The sexism behind the 'controversy' over the U.S. women's soccer team's 13 goals," by Rachel Allisonhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/06/14/sexism-behind-controversy-over-us-womens-soccer-teams-goals/?utm_term=.82bdd447ef0a— Washington Post"Engendering Fandom: Audience Building in Women's Professional Soccer" by Rachel Allison— The Society Pages - Engaging Sports"Allison convincingly demonstrates the systematic marginalization of women's athletics and athletes, who nonetheless challenge the inequalities they routinely face. Recommended." — Choice"A critical and much-needed addition to the scholarship on soccer in general and women's soccer in particular. This book fills so many knowledge gaps that it is nothing short of a gift to either sports fan or sociologist." — Dave Zirin, sports editor, The Nation"Allison's study reveals a complex field were women in sports have to navigate a thorny terrain – not be too feminine and sexy, not too butch, but still professional and gaining attention."— Idrottsforum