The Tucker Center

Tuesday, October 22, the Tucker Center presents "The Tucker Center at 20: Honoring Our Legacy & Celebrating Our Achievement" at 7:00 pm at Cowles Auditorium, Hubert H. Humphrey Center.

The Female Athlete and Concussions: The Untold and Unexamined Story April 14, 2011 Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, Jill Brooks, Aynsley Smith Research findings on the rising incidence of sport-related concussions have ignited a national conversation about this injury, but for the most part, the discussion and research focuses on male athletes at the professional level. The Tucker Center aims to change that by raising awareness of the realities about female athletes and concussions. The April discussion will address questions such as: Do gender differences exist in sport-related concussion risk, symptoms, outcomes, and recovery? To address these critical issues, nationally recognized experts will discuss the latest research about what is known and not known regarding the impact of concussions on female athletes. Strategies for future research, as well as educational and prevention efforts will also be examined.

The second Fall 2010 Tucker Table took place on Thursday, November 11, with Tucker Center resident scholars, Dr. Mary Jo Kane & Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi, speaking on "The Construction & Launch of espnW: Fact v. Fiction". The presentation will take place in Cooke 206 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.

The Tucker Center with support of KARE 11 TV (NBC), the Medtronic Foundation, the Janet B. Watson Fund of the Minnesota Women's Foundation, and the Minnesota Lynx has produced a videotape and accompanying curriculum guide entitled "Throw Like a Girl: A Revolution in Women's Sports." "Throw Like a Girl: A Revolution in Women's Sports" is a story about what it has been like for girls and women to play sports as told through the eyes of different generations of Minnesota families. It is a story about the barriers that needed to be overcome in order to reach a landmark moment in women's sports—the passage of Title IX in 1972—and all of the victories that have occurred in its wake. It is a story about females participating at all levels of sport from the playgrounds to the Olympics. It is a story about the impact of sport, not just on the young women themselves, but on their families, their communities and even their country. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it is a story about triumph and what it means to finally live during an era when "throwing like a girl" is seen not as a criticism, but as a compliment. The videotape has recently received a national award from the Association of Women in Radio and Television Broadcasting. The "Gracie Award" is in honor of the late radio and television pioneer, Gracie Allen. The video and an accompanying curriculum guide can be used in a variety of educational settings—ranging from physical education, history, and social studies classes, to general sport programs—to tell the history and forecast the future of women's and girls' sport in the state of Minnesota.

Are Women Aging Successfully? New Thinking and Research about Gender and Physical Activity Mariah Burton Nelson April 21, 2010 The world’s population is rapidly aging. By 2030, the number of U.S. citizens over 65 will be nearly twice what it is today and a large majority will be women. This gender difference in longevity has significant implications for women’s health, well-being, and quality of life. Scholars and advocates argue that older women are disproportionately affected by ageism and that cultural factors pressure many aging women to focus more on appearance versus physical health, more on face-lifting than weight-lifting. Mariah Burton Nelson, an internationally known author, journalist, and speaker on gender and sports and the Executive Director of the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation, challenges us to ask how women can positively embrace growing older and simultaneously resist the detrimental societal forces which may negatively impact their lives. A provocative thinker and writer, Nelson will provide an inspirational look at how women can reframe ageism and redefine “successful aging.” She will discuss the latest research pertaining to personal behaviors that contribute to maintaining and enhancing physical ability, cognitive function, vitality, and joy as we grow older. She will also explore how we typically think and speak about aging and our own aging process, and encourage us to include stories about hope, humor, health, and happiness.