WESTERN WOMEN AND RODEO:A Long Journey…

THE HISTORIC VS. THE MODERNA TALE OF TWO WOMEN AND THEIR PORTRAYAL IN THE MEDIABonnie McCarroll Maggie Parker

WOMEN IN RODEO TIMELINE1870-1940 More than 450 women participated in rodeo events competing head to head with men in a variety of events including trick riding and roping, bulldogging, bronc busting and barrel racing.1929- Bonnie McCarroll dies in the arena, while bronc busting1940-Women are almost entirely excluded from rodeo as it was deemed too dangerous for women following McCarroll’s accident. The only events they were allowed to participate in was barrel racing and rodeo queen.1948-Rodeo women form the Girls Professional Rodeo Association1970-Changed to Women’s Professional Rodeo association and was more than 2,000 members strong2012-Maggie Parker became the only female bull rider in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association2013-Maggie Parker suffered a crushed vertebrae in the arena, though Maggie lived her accident has refired the debate.

BONNIE McCARROLL "We cowgirls have butted in on a so-called strictly man's game–and if to ‘play' on the hurricane deck on a sun-fishin', whirlly-giggin', rearin'-up, fallin'-over-backward, squallin', bitin', strikin', buckin', roman-nosed cayuse ain't a heman's game, there never will be one–still, as I say, we cowgirls that like the game well enough to play it should play it just like the cowboys do. Why, I'd feel insulted...if I was told to tie my stirrups down!"

Often referred to as "about as big as a minute," Bonnie was a tenacious competitor while weighing between 95 and 112 pounds. She wrote once, "I don't have to diet or attend reducing salons or do rolling exercises to keep slim, nor starve to death to wear those boyish-cut things the fashion kings are handing out now. If there is anything a cowgirl can keep, it is the slim silhouette.“When asked if a cowgirl's life was any different than that of other women, Bonnie replied, "Not at all, I like my home. I like pretty clothes. I like to sew and do all sorts of feminine things. I live in Boise, Idaho, at home with my mother and my husband during the winter. I don't ride much then, but I do swim and engage in all sorts of athletics to keep myself in trim for the roundup season." Husband Frank called her "the best little cook in the world and some dressmaker, too."

BONNIE’S LAST RIDE

Bonnie McCarroll Born 1897--Died 1929

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Modern Rodeo—Women’s Professional Rodeo Association

MAGGIE PARKER

"IF I DIDN'T WEAR MY HELMET I'D PROBABLY BE A VEGETABLE BY NOW,"

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Maggie says, "You're up against an animal and you don't know what he is going to do or what he's thinking," she said. "You can't ride against them, you have to ride with them."

WHAT THE MEDIA SAYS, “ALTHOUGH MAGGIE IS BARELY 5FT 5IN, SHE REGULARLY TAKES ON BULLS THAT WEIGH OVER 2,000 LBS .”

“MAGGIE, WHO WEIGHS 130LBS, BECAME PROFESSIONAL LAST JUNE …”

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Maggie says, “‘They [men] say, "This is why girls shouldn't ride bulls and girls aren't made for this." But it all depends on the person.

‘You're either a good bull rider or you're not. It takes a long time to gain people's respect and get treated the same as the men.

“They think I do it for a lot of the wrong reasons,” Parker said. “Most people don’t like me before they meet me just because they think I do it for attention and for guys and to be in the spotlight and that I don’t really care about it."

MAGGIE’SACCIDENT

MAGGIE SAYS SHE HAS FACED EXTREME GENDER DISCRIMINATION.

“WHEN A GUY GETS HURT ON A BULL, IT’S AN EVERYDAY THING, BUT WHEN A GIRL GETS HURT, IT’S ‘THAT’S WHY THE GIRLS SHOULDN’T RIDE BULLS.’ THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE BEEN CARRIED OUT OF THE ARENA. EVEN WITH BROKEN RIBS, BROKEN FEET, BROKEN WHATEVER, BROKEN VERTEBRAE — I STILL HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE FENCE. NO ONE WILL HELP YOU. THE CROWD DOESN’T WANT TO SEE A GIRL GET HURT AND IT MAKES THE STOCK CONTRACTOR LOOK BAD."

“EVERYBODY GETS NERVOUS,” PARKER SAID. “WHEN YOU SEE YOUR BULL COMING DOWN THE CHUTE, YOUR HEART STARTS PUMPING HARD AND YOU GET THAT ADRENALINE. THAT’S WHAT MAKES BULL RIDERS DIFFERENT FROM EVERYONE ELSE … WE HAVE THAT HEART TO OVERCOME THAT FEAR AND TO GET ON ANYWAYS.”

MALE HEGEMONY IN RODEO

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Bonnie McCarroll Maggie Parker

LANGUAGE REFLECTS THOUGHTS—MEDIA LANGUAGE USE AND THE MALE HEGEMONY

Bonnie McCarroll

• “About as big as a minute."

• “Was a tenacious competitor while weighing between 95 and 112 pounds.”

Maggie Parker

• Although Maggie is barely 5ft 5in, she regularly takes on bulls that weigh over 2,000 lbs .”

• “Maggie, who weighs 130lbs, became professional last June …”

• “In a sport that is dominated by testosterone, Maggie Parker has proven you do not need a pair of balls to become a professional bull rider, instead all you need is desire and drive.”