In the joyous moments after Ash Barty’s Wimbledon win she was photographed in front of the honours board with her name already on it as the 2021 champion.
I scanned the board looking for 1980 – the year Evonne Goolagong-Cawley won her second title. Until Barty, she was the last Aussie woman to do so.
But I got a surprise. The name inscribed next to 1980 was ‘Mrs R. Cawley’. Momentarily puzzled, I suddenly realised that the ‘R’ must stand for the name of Goolagong-Cawley’s husband. And indeed it does: his name is Roger Cawley.
It is the same story for 1981, where the winner is listed as ‘Mrs J.M. Lloyd’. Who? It took me a second and then I realised this was actually Chris Evert. At the time, she was married to John Lloyd so ‘Mrs C.M. Evert-Lloyd’ would have been fair enough but ‘Mrs J.M. Lloyd’ is just bizarre.
I was aware of this convention – of labelling married women with not only the last names of their husbands but their initials too: at Christmas some elderly relatives send us cards addressed to ‘Mr and Mrs P Dennett’ as though my wife doesn’t have an identity. But surely Wimbledon must do away with such outdated and insulting styling.
Change is possible. Wimbledon now has a roof on centre court and court one, it uses Hawkeye technology, the players no longer have to bow and curtsy to the royal box and they are even allowed a tiny hint of colour in their white clothing.
It is time to rewrite the honours board. Remove all the anachronistic instances of ‘Miss’ and ‘Mrs’ and get rid of the initials of female players’ husbands. ‘Miss. R. Cawley’ should be ‘Evonne Goolagong-Cawley’ and ‘Miss. J.M. Lloyd’ should be ‘Chris Evert’.
By all means display the old honours board somewhere to preserve the history, but bring in a properly written modern board into the position of prominence. It is what the champion athletes deserve.
Lois
Guest
….and if they get divorced …. no one has a clue who they were !
Women are people
Guest
They were never given the option too. I will tell you what, Let's change the men's board to say Hr. J. Mirin for Helen Mirin.
alm
Guest
Because Chris Evert's husband did not win Wimbledon She did. Why should her husband get any credit because he had the ability to breathe?
JoelyR
Roar Rookie
Or... you could just let history be what it is: history with all of its antiquated societal practices and everything. It's really sad that the 'offense' culture today can't simply enjoy that Barty has won Wimbledon and gets her name on the board. Has anyone actually bothered to ask Evonne? Are we all jumping politically correctly up and down when she may neither care nor want the board change on reflection of a modern world? Do we have to go about being upset and righteous every time a change from the past ways is recognized? Would it make the author "feel better" if such a change was made? Have a think about that last question... Or perhaps we should just enjoy that a humble Aussie has taken one of Tennis' greatest prize and be happy about it.
Claire Engeham
Guest
Just an initial and surname for both would be enough.
Ima Person
Guest
Because we evolve as a society to recognise the reminders of past injustices such as the ownership of women by identifying them only through their marital status serves has a powerful negative effect on support for present day diversity and equality We learn, recognise and address discrimination to provide a more inclusive and respectful future
Ms Overit
Guest
- it's not about the past winners, it's about the future winners - then give them the choice when they make a new board
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
That screen name is going to have to go or your local Harvey Norman store is up for a jolly good looting! :stoked: :silly: :laughing:
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Don't trouble yourself so much - it is all about to change now that Wimbledon is being forced to forego their offensive pre-qualifying doodle inspections, to determine whether the kiddies play in the evil men's competition or the sheila's. The horrid hurtiness of the honours board that no-one has ever heard of will soon fade into obscurity. Next year's wymminses winner could well be Laurie Hubbard, as he moves seamlessly from Olympic girlie weightlifting to compete in, and win, synchronised swimming, netball, cake decorating and Say Yes to the Dress. If he accidentally trips over during the presentation Ash Barty will be crushed live on television. :stoked: :stoked:
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
"erase societal norms that no longer fit with modern sensibilities" But there was no society. The world did not start until 2000. Prior to that there was no philosophical thinking, intelligence, scientific discovery, industrial development, WAGs or social influencers. The world was merely a black hole in outer space with ignorant white men in charge and everyone else was a victim whose great grandchildren should now be paid compensation. They did not even have supermarket freezers to grow beef sausages and lamb chops. Or mobile phones - can you believe that? Bizarre!
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Dunno about changing her name BLACKTOWN. Her foundation is called the Goolagong Foundation.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
It’s just occurred to me that after she was married she was commonly referred to as Evonne Goolagong- Cawley in the media.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Paul, I guess you’re lucky to have escaped being called an upstart, nay - a plebeian upstart, by Mr, Ms, Mrs BLACKTOWN. But seriously, it seems to me that purely for reasons of clarity and historical accuracy there needs to be some consistency to identify multiple winners. In the future there’ll be very few who know that Ms E Goolagong and Mrs R Cawley were the same person. Similarly for Chrissy Evert, Margaret Smith and probably others I’m not aware of. Come to that I would bet that half the current readers of The Roar couldn’t have told you who Mrs R Cawley was.
Patrick
Guest
As a feminist blogger points out - "Mrs. R Cawley" was and is formally correct for the usage of the title Mrs. - Mrs. Woman's FirstName HusbandsLastName is only formally correct for divorced women. Needless to say its only since the 1980s that this has been neglected. Many people baulked in 1981 when it was pointed out that Diana Spencer would be formally Princess Charles upon her marriage. Likewise, one of the former Catherine Middleton's formal titles is Princess William.
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
I understand the point you make but how far do we go to erase societal norms that no longer fit with modern sensibilities? Can’t we just accept that etiquette nomenclature evolves over the centuries? Imagine if in 2060, it was decided that Ms Ash Barty was a disrespectful description and should be erased for some unknown future nomenclature. We can’t predict the future anymore than those officials at Tennis Club could in 1980.
Davico
Roar Pro
I imagine Chris Evert would not mind it being changed since she has reverted to her maiden name, always had it Hyphenated and has been divorced from the guy since 1987!
Yawn
Guest
Oh the humanity...
Lily
Guest
I absolutely agree. What happens if they divorce after the title win?
BLACKTOWN
Roar Rookie
When Evoone objects when Chris Evert objects I'll back them up 100% when you object then no.
Paul Dennett
Roar Rookie
Yet it is your place to object to my objection?