Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially run the Boston marathon as a registered entrant, in 1967. 50 years ago women were not allowed to take part in the event, the oldest annual marathon.
The photo shows the moment when Kathrine, running as No 261 was tackled during the run, by an official. He tried to grab her and shouted, "Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers!" Kathrine explains, "He didn't think women should be there."
Kathrine managed to carry on and finish the race but she was disqualified and expelled from the athletics federation, because she was accused of having fraudulently entered the race, (which was not true) and because she had run without a chaperone. Kathrine explains; "It just shows the attitude in 1967; people thought that if women ran that they would turn in to a man or that it was socially objectionable."
However, Kathrine's story became famous around the world and changes started to happen. In 1972 Boston allowed women to run the marathon and Kathrine became a role model for runners. In the London marathon 2018 Kathrine, now aged 71, was the official starter for the women's elite race before running the marathon alongside 40,000 people (of all genders).
Katharine says running is gender blind; "It's about equality, it's about inclusion and it's also about peace."
Show the first picture- what do you see?
Where are they? What are they doing?
What do you think is happening?
Was this picture taken recently? How can you tell?
Explain the story
-Why do you think the marathon was only for men?
- Women were not allowed so why did Kathrine choose to run?
- Kathrine broke the rules; what do you think about her choice?
- Why didn't her disqualification make Kathrine give up?
- 50 years later Kathrine is the official starter for a women's race, and then she will join the marathon; what does this show about how ideas have changed?
- what is gender equality?
- what law do we have today that says people of different gender should not face discrimination (Equality Act 2010)
- Kathrine says running is 'gender blind' what does she mean?- what can we learn from Kathrine?
- What does this show us about ideas and laws over time? (ideas and laws can change)
- Why is this story about No Outsiders?
No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat
Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat
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