“Battle of the Sexes” is a 2017 biographical comedy drama sports film directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. Starring Emma Stone and Steve Carell, the film portrays the real-life story of Billie Jean King, a top women tennis player who fought for gender equality in the tennis industry. The film shows how King and a group of women pioneers challenged the status quo and the discrimination they faced in the male-dominated world of tennis.
The story is set in the 1970s, when King’s career as a tennis player was at its peak. Although she was not alone, King was one of the few female tennis players who demanded fair compensation and recognition from tennis tournaments. She noticed that female tennis players received less than one-eighth of the prize money received by their male counterparts, despite selling the same number of tickets. Along with her friend and fellow tennis player Gladys Heldman, King decided to stand up against the injustice and demanded a meeting with Jack Kramer, the creator of female tennis tournaments.
However, the meeting did not go well, and Kramer refused to pay equal prize money to female tennis players, considering women’s tennis to be an inferior sport. King and Heldman threatened to start their own women’s tour, but Kramer dismissed their plan, saying it would not be recognized by the tennis association. The two women then had to come up with a new strategy to get the recognition they deserved. With the help of seven other top female tennis players, they formed the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in 1973 and started their own tour.
Meanwhile, King was struggling with her personal life. She was a married woman who began to develop romantic feelings for her hairstylist, Marilyn Barnett. King found it hard to choose between her passion and her marriage. On the other hand, Bobby Riggs, a former Wimbledon champion and one of King’s rivals, challenged her and other women tennis players to a match of “battle of the sexes.” Riggs, who considered himself a chauvinist, claimed that women were inferior to men and offered a grand prize to anyone who could defeat him.
The tennis match between King and Riggs became a national obsession and drew a record-breaking 90 million viewers. Although the story revolves around a tennis match, it symbolizes the greater societal issue of gender equality. While one character, Riggs, portrays the outdated and insulting chauvinistic ideas, King serves as the symbol of exoraation and fight for justice.
“Battle of the Sexes” is a timely film that highlights gender equality by showcasing how women fought for their fair share of recognition and compensation. The film illustrates how a group of women, spearheaded by Billie Jean King, used their influence and charisma to fight against the unfair treatment of female tennis players. The film’s conclusion leaves a mark on viewers, presenting a powerful message about how one person or a small group of people can bring change to society.
In conclusion, “Battle of the Sexes” is an inspiring and thought-provoking film that deserves to be watched. The film does an excellent job of showcasing the bravery of those who came before us and fought for gender equality, and King serves as a representation of the courage and strength of women who fought for equality.
