This tennis icon paved the way for women in sports
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0:02 - 0:04Billie Jean King: Hi, everyone!
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0:04 - 0:06(Applause)
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0:06 - 0:08Thanks, Pat.
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0:08 - 0:09Thank you!
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0:12 - 0:14Getting me all wound up, now!
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0:14 - 0:15(Laughter)
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0:15 - 0:16Pat Mitchell: Good!
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0:17 - 0:21You know, when I was watching
the video again of the match, -
0:21 - 0:25you must have felt
like the fate of the world's women -
0:25 - 0:28was on every stroke you took.
-
0:28 - 0:30Were you feeling that?
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0:31 - 0:34BJK: First of all, Bobby Riggs --
he was the former number one player, -
0:34 - 0:36he wasn't just some hacker, by the way.
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0:36 - 0:39He was one of my heroes and I admired him.
-
0:40 - 0:43And that's the reason I beat him,
actually, because I respected him. -
0:43 - 0:44(Laughter)
-
0:44 - 0:47It's true -- my mom
and especially my dad always said: -
0:47 - 0:50"Respect your opponent,
and never underestimate them, ever." -
0:50 - 0:52And he was correct.
He was absolutely correct. -
0:53 - 0:55But I knew it was about social change.
-
0:57 - 1:00And I was really nervous
whenever we announced it, -
1:00 - 1:03and I felt like the whole world
was on my shoulders. -
1:03 - 1:09And I thought, "If I lose, it's going
to put women back 50 years, at least." -
1:09 - 1:13Title IX had just been passed
the year before -- June 23, 1972. -
1:14 - 1:16And women's professional tennis --
-
1:16 - 1:20there were nine of us who signed
a one-dollar contract in 1970 -- -
1:20 - 1:22now remember, the match is in '73.
-
1:22 - 1:26So we were only in our
third year of having a tour -
1:26 - 1:30where we could actually play,
have a place to compete and make a living. -
1:30 - 1:33So there were nine of us that signed
that one-dollar contract. -
1:33 - 1:38And our dream was for any girl,
born any place in the world -- -
1:38 - 1:39if she was good enough --
-
1:40 - 1:44there would be a place for her to compete
and for us to make a living. -
1:44 - 1:47Because before 1968,
we made 14 dollars a day, -
1:47 - 1:50and we were under the control
of organizations. -
1:50 - 1:52So we really wanted
to break away from that. -
1:52 - 1:55But we knew it wasn't really
about our generation so much; -
1:55 - 1:57we knew it was about
the future generations. -
1:57 - 2:01We do stand on the shoulders of the people
that came before us, there is no question. -
2:01 - 2:04But every generation
has the chance to make it better. -
2:04 - 2:07That was really on my mind.
-
2:07 - 2:10I really wanted to start matching
the hearts and minds to Title IX. -
2:10 - 2:14Title IX, in case anybody doesn't know,
which a lot of people probably don't, -
2:14 - 2:18said that any federal funds given
to a high school, college or university, -
2:18 - 2:21either public or private,
-
2:21 - 2:25had to -- finally --
give equal monies to boys and girls. -
2:26 - 2:27And that changed everything.
-
2:27 - 2:30(Applause)
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2:30 - 2:32So you can have a law,
-
2:32 - 2:35but it's changing the hearts and minds
to match up with it. -
2:35 - 2:38That's when it really rocks, totally.
-
2:38 - 2:39So that was on my mind.
-
2:39 - 2:42I wanted to start that change
in the hearts and minds. -
2:42 - 2:45But two things came out of that match.
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2:45 - 2:48For women: self-confidence, empowerment.
-
2:48 - 2:51They actually had enough nerve
to ask for a raise. -
2:52 - 2:56Some women have waited
10, 15 years to ask. -
2:56 - 2:58I said, "More importantly,
did you get it?" -
2:58 - 2:59(Laughter)
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2:59 - 3:00And they did!
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3:00 - 3:02And for the men?
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3:02 - 3:05A lot of the men today don't realize it,
-
3:05 - 3:10but if you're in your 50s, 60s
or whatever, late 40s, -
3:10 - 3:14you're the first generation of men
of the Women's Movement -- -
3:14 - 3:15whether you like it or not!
-
3:15 - 3:18(Laughter)
-
3:18 - 3:20(Applause)
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3:20 - 3:21And for the men,
-
3:21 - 3:23what happened for the men,
they'd come up to me -- -
3:23 - 3:26and most times, the men are the ones
who have tears in their eyes, -
3:26 - 3:28it's very interesting.
-
3:28 - 3:32They go, "Billie, I was very young
when I saw that match, -
3:32 - 3:33and now I have a daughter.
-
3:35 - 3:38And I am so happy I saw that
as a young man." -
3:39 - 3:42And one of those young men,
at 12 years old, was President Obama. -
3:43 - 3:46And he actually told me that
when I met him, he said: -
3:46 - 3:49"You don't realize it,
but I saw that match at 12. -
3:49 - 3:51And now I have two daughters,
-
3:51 - 3:53and it has made a difference
in how I raise them." -
3:53 - 3:58So both men and women got a lot
out of it, but different things. -
3:58 - 4:01PM: And now there are generations --
at least one or two -- -
4:01 - 4:04who have experienced the equality
-
4:04 - 4:09that Title IX and other fights
along the way made possible. -
4:09 - 4:14And for women, there are generations
who have also experienced teamwork. -
4:14 - 4:18They got to play team sports
in a way they hadn't before. -
4:18 - 4:23So you had a legacy already built
in terms of being an athlete, -
4:23 - 4:29a legacy of the work you did
to lobby for equal pay for women athletes -
4:29 - 4:31and the Women's Sports Foundation.
-
4:31 - 4:34What now are you looking to accomplish
-
4:34 - 4:37with The Billie Jean King
Leadership Initiative? -
4:37 - 4:40BJK: I think it goes back
to an epiphany I had at 12. -
4:40 - 4:43At 11, I wanted to be the number one
tennis player in the world, -
4:43 - 4:47and a friend had asked me to play
and I said, "What's that?" -
4:47 - 4:51Tennis was not in my family --
basketball was, other sports. -
4:51 - 4:52Fast forward to 12 years old,
-
4:52 - 4:54(Laughter)
-
4:54 - 4:56and I'm finally starting
to play in tournaments -
4:56 - 4:59where you get a ranking
at the end of the year. -
4:59 - 5:03So I was daydreaming
at the Los Angeles Tennis Club, -
5:03 - 5:08and I started thinking about my sport
and how tiny it was, -
5:08 - 5:11but also that everybody who played
wore white shoes, white clothes, -
5:11 - 5:14played with white balls --
everybody who played was white. -
5:15 - 5:20And I said to myself, at 12 years old,
"Where is everyone else?" -
5:22 - 5:25And that just kept sticking in my brain.
-
5:25 - 5:27And that moment,
-
5:27 - 5:30I promised myself I'd fight
for equal rights and opportunities -
5:30 - 5:32for boys and girls, men and women,
the rest of my life. -
5:33 - 5:37And that tennis, if I was fortunate
enough to become number one -- -
5:37 - 5:41and I knew, being a girl,
it would be harder to have influence, -
5:41 - 5:43already at that age --
-
5:43 - 5:45that I had this platform.
-
5:46 - 5:48And tennis is global.
-
5:49 - 5:51And I thought, "You know what?
-
5:52 - 5:55I've been given an opportunity
that very few people have had." -
5:55 - 5:58I didn't know if I was going
to make it -- this was only 12. -
5:58 - 6:01I sure wanted it, but making it
is a whole other discussion. -
6:01 - 6:05I just remember I promised myself,
and I really try to keep my word. -
6:06 - 6:10That's who I truly am,
just fighting for people. -
6:10 - 6:14And, unfortunately, women have had less.
-
6:15 - 6:17And we are considered less.
-
6:17 - 6:20And so my attentions,
where did they have to go? -
6:20 - 6:22It was just ... you have to.
-
6:22 - 6:25And learn to stick up for yourself,
hear your own voice. -
6:25 - 6:28You hear the same words
keep coming out all the time, -
6:28 - 6:32and I got really lucky
because I had an education. -
6:32 - 6:35And I think if you can see it
you can be it, you know? -
6:35 - 6:37If you can see it, you can be it.
-
6:37 - 6:39You look at Pat,
you look at other leaders, -
6:39 - 6:41you look at these speakers,
look at yourself, -
6:41 - 6:43because everyone --
-
6:43 - 6:44everyone --
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6:44 - 6:46can do something extraordinary.
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6:46 - 6:48Every single person.
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6:48 - 6:52PM: And your story, Billie,
has inspired so many women everywhere. -
6:52 - 6:55Now with the Billie Jean King
Leadership Initiative, -
6:55 - 6:57you're taking on an even bigger cause.
-
6:57 - 7:01Because one thing we hear a lot
about is women taking their voice, -
7:01 - 7:05working to find their way
into leadership positions. -
7:05 - 7:08But what you're talking
about is even bigger than that. -
7:08 - 7:10It's inclusive leadership.
-
7:10 - 7:14And this is a generation that has grown up
thinking more inclusively -- -
7:14 - 7:16BJK: Isn't it great?
Look at the technology! -
7:16 - 7:20It's amazing how it connects us all!
It's about connection. -
7:20 - 7:24It's simply amazing
what's possible because of it. -
7:24 - 7:26But the Billie Jean King
Leadership Initiative -
7:26 - 7:29is really about the workforce mostly,
and trying to change it, -
7:30 - 7:34so people can actually go to work
and be their authentic selves. -
7:34 - 7:37Because most of us have two jobs:
-
7:37 - 7:40One, to fit in -- I'll give you
a perfect example. -
7:40 - 7:43An African American woman
gets up an hour earlier to go to work, -
7:43 - 7:45straightens her hair in the bathroom,
-
7:45 - 7:48goes to the bathroom
probably four, five, six times a day -
7:48 - 7:51to keep straightening her hair,
to keep making sure she fits in. -
7:51 - 7:52So she's working two jobs.
-
7:52 - 7:55She's got this other job,
whatever that may be, -
7:55 - 7:57but she's also trying to fit in.
-
7:57 - 8:01Or this poor man who kept his diploma --
-
8:01 - 8:03he went to University of Michigan,
-
8:03 - 8:06but he never would talk about
his poverty as a youngster, ever -- -
8:06 - 8:08just would not mention it.
-
8:08 - 8:10So he made sure they saw
he was well-educated. -
8:10 - 8:13And then you see a gay guy
who has an NFL -- -
8:13 - 8:15which means American football
for all of you out there, -
8:15 - 8:17it's a big deal, it's very macho --
-
8:17 - 8:19and he talked about football all the time,
-
8:19 - 8:23because he was gay
and he didn't want anybody to know. -
8:23 - 8:25It just goes on and on.
-
8:25 - 8:31So my wish for everyone is to be able
to be their authentic self 24/7, -
8:31 - 8:33that would be the ultimate.
-
8:33 - 8:36And we catch ourselves -- I mean,
I catch myself to this day. -
8:36 - 8:39Even being gay I catch myself,
you know, like, -
8:39 - 8:40(Gasp)
-
8:40 - 8:44A little uncomfortable,
a little surge in my gut, -
8:44 - 8:47feeling not totally
comfortable in my own skin. -
8:49 - 8:51So, I think you have to ask yourself --
-
8:51 - 8:54I want people to be themselves,
whatever that is, just let it be. -
8:54 - 8:58PM: And the first research
the Leadership Initiative did showed that, -
8:58 - 9:01that these examples you just used --
-
9:01 - 9:06that many of us have the problem
of being authentic. -
9:06 - 9:10But what you've just looked at
is this millennial generation, -
9:10 - 9:13who have benefited from all these
equal opportunities -- -
9:14 - 9:16which may not be equal
but exist everywhere -- -
9:16 - 9:17BJK: First of all, I'm really lucky.
-
9:17 - 9:22Partnership with Teneo,
a strategic company that's amazing. -
9:22 - 9:24That's really the reason
I'm able to do this. -
9:25 - 9:26I've had two times in my life
-
9:26 - 9:29where I've actually had men
really behind me with power. -
9:29 - 9:32And that was in the old days
with Philip Morris with Virginia Slims, -
9:32 - 9:34and this is the second time
in my entire life. -
9:34 - 9:36And then Deloitte.
-
9:37 - 9:40The one thing I wanted was data -- facts.
-
9:40 - 9:42So Deloitte sent out a survey,
-
9:42 - 9:46and over 4,000 people now have answered,
-
9:46 - 9:48and we're continuing in the workplace.
-
9:49 - 9:51And what do the millennials feel?
-
9:52 - 9:55Well, they feel a lot, but what
they're so fantastic about is -- -
9:55 - 9:59you know, our generation was like,
"Oh, we're going to get representation." -
9:59 - 10:02So if you walk into a room,
you see everybody represented. -
10:02 - 10:04That's not good enough anymore,
which is so good! -
10:04 - 10:09So the millennials are fantastic;
they want connection, engagement. -
10:09 - 10:12They just want you to tell us
what you're feeling, what you're thinking, -
10:12 - 10:13and get into the solution.
-
10:13 - 10:15They're problem-solvers,
-
10:15 - 10:17and of course, you've got
the information at your fingertips, -
10:17 - 10:20compared to when I was growing up.
-
10:20 - 10:23PM: What did the research show you
about millennials? -
10:23 - 10:24Are they going to make a difference?
-
10:24 - 10:28Are they going to create a world where
there is really an inclusive work force? -
10:28 - 10:34BJK: Well, in 2025,
75 percent of the global workforce -
10:34 - 10:36is going to be millennials.
-
10:36 - 10:38I think they are going
to help solve problems. -
10:39 - 10:41I think they have
the wherewithal to do it. -
10:41 - 10:42I know they care a lot.
-
10:42 - 10:47They have big ideas
and they can make big things happen. -
10:47 - 10:49I want to stay in the now
with the young people, -
10:49 - 10:51I don't want to get behind.
-
10:53 - 10:54(Laughter)
-
10:54 - 10:56PM: I don't think there's any chance!
-
10:58 - 11:01But what you found out
in the research about millennials -
11:01 - 11:05is not really the experience that a lot
of people have with millennials. -
11:05 - 11:09BJK: No, well, if we want to talk --
OK, I've been doing my little mini-survey. -
11:09 - 11:14I've been talking to the Boomers,
who are their bosses, and I go, -
11:14 - 11:16"What do you think about the millennials?"
-
11:16 - 11:18And I'm pretty excited, like it's good,
-
11:18 - 11:19and they get this face --
-
11:19 - 11:22(Laughter)
-
11:22 - 11:23"Oh, you mean the 'Me' generation?"
-
11:23 - 11:25(Laughter)
-
11:25 - 11:27I say, "Do you really think so?
-
11:27 - 11:29Because I do think they care
about the environment -
11:29 - 11:31and all these things."
-
11:31 - 11:36And they go, "Oh, Billie,
they cannot focus." -
11:36 - 11:39(Laughter)
-
11:39 - 11:40They actually have proven
-
11:40 - 11:44that the average focus
for an 18-year-old is 37 seconds. -
11:44 - 11:45(Laughter)
-
11:45 - 11:47They can't focus.
-
11:47 - 11:48And they don't really care.
-
11:48 - 11:50I just heard a story the other night:
-
11:50 - 11:53a woman owns a gallery
and she has these workers. -
11:54 - 11:57She gets a text from one of the workers,
-
11:57 - 11:59like an intern, she's
just starting -- she goes, -
11:59 - 12:03"Oh, by the way, I'm going to be late
because I'm at the hairdresser's." -
12:03 - 12:08(Laughter)
-
12:08 - 12:12So she arrives, and this boss says,
-
12:12 - 12:13"What's going on?"
-
12:13 - 12:15And she says, "Oh, I was late,
sorry, how's it going?" -
12:15 - 12:19She says, "Well, guess what?
I'd like you leave, you're finished." -
12:19 - 12:21She goes, "OK."
-
12:21 - 12:24(Laughter)
-
12:24 - 12:25No problem!
-
12:25 - 12:27PM: Now Billie, that story --
-
12:27 - 12:29I know, but that's what
scares the boomers -- -
12:29 - 12:32I'm just telling you --
so I think it's good for us to share. -
12:32 - 12:34(Laughter)
-
12:34 - 12:35No, it is good for us to share,
-
12:35 - 12:38because we're our authentic selves
and what we're really feeling, -
12:38 - 12:40so we've got to take it
both ways, you know? -
12:41 - 12:42But I have great faith because --
-
12:42 - 12:45if you've been in sports like I have --
-
12:45 - 12:47every generation gets better.
-
12:47 - 12:48It's a fact.
-
12:48 - 12:52With the Women's Sports Foundation
being the advocates for Title IX still, -
12:52 - 12:55because we're trying
to keep protecting the law, -
12:55 - 12:58because it's in a tenuous position always,
-
12:58 - 13:00so we really are concerned,
-
13:00 - 13:01and we do a lot of research.
-
13:01 - 13:03That's very important to us.
-
13:03 - 13:05And I want to hear from people.
-
13:05 - 13:11But we really have to protect
what Title IX stands for worldwide. -
13:11 - 13:16And you heard President Carter
talk about how Title IX is protected. -
13:17 - 13:20And do you know that every single lawsuit
-
13:20 - 13:24that girls, at least in sports,
have gone up against -- -
13:24 - 13:26whatever institutions --
-
13:26 - 13:28has won?
-
13:28 - 13:30Title IX is there to protect us.
-
13:30 - 13:32And it is amazing.
-
13:32 - 13:36But we still have to get
the hearts and minds -- -
13:36 - 13:39the hearts and minds
to match the legislation is huge. -
13:39 - 13:41PM: So what gets you up every morning?
-
13:41 - 13:43What keeps you sustaining your work,
-
13:43 - 13:46sustaining the fight
for equality, extending it, -
13:46 - 13:50always exploring new areas,
trying to find new ways ... ? -
13:50 - 13:54BJK: Well, I always drove my parents crazy
because I was always the curious one. -
13:55 - 13:56I'm highly motivated.
-
13:56 - 14:00My younger brother was
a Major League Baseball player. -
14:01 - 14:03My poor parents did not care
if we were any good. -
14:03 - 14:05(Laughter)
-
14:05 - 14:07And we drove them crazy because we pushed,
-
14:07 - 14:09we pushed because
we wanted to be the best. -
14:13 - 14:17And I think it's because of what
I'm hearing today in TED talks. -
14:18 - 14:22I think to listen to these
different women, -
14:22 - 14:23to listen to different people,
-
14:23 - 14:26to listen to President Carter --
90 years old, by the way, -
14:26 - 14:30and he we was throwing these figures
out that I would never -- -
14:30 - 14:31I'd have to go,
-
14:31 - 14:34"Excuse me, wait a minute, I need
to get a list out of these figures." -
14:34 - 14:37He was rattling off --
I mean, that's amazing, I'm sorry. -
14:38 - 14:39PM: He's an amazing man.
-
14:39 - 14:42(Applause)
-
14:42 - 14:45BJK: And then you're going to have
President Mary Robinson, -
14:46 - 14:47who's a former president --
-
14:47 - 14:52Thank you, Irish! 62 percent! LGBTQ! Yes!
-
14:52 - 14:53(Applause)
-
14:53 - 14:57Congress is voting in June
on same-sex marriage, -
14:57 - 15:01so these are things that for some people
are very hard to hear. -
15:01 - 15:04But always remember,
every one of us is an individual, -
15:04 - 15:05a human being with a beating heart,
-
15:05 - 15:10who cares and wants to live
their authentic life. -
15:10 - 15:12OK? You don't have to agree with somebody,
-
15:12 - 15:14but everyone has the opportunity.
-
15:16 - 15:19I think we all have an obligation
-
15:19 - 15:24to continue to keep moving
the needle forward, always. -
15:24 - 15:26And these people have been so inspiring.
-
15:27 - 15:28Everyone matters.
-
15:28 - 15:30And every one of you is an influencer.
-
15:30 - 15:33You out there listening, out there
in the world, plus the people here -- -
15:33 - 15:35every single person's an influencer.
-
15:35 - 15:38Never, ever forget that. OK?
-
15:38 - 15:40So don't ever give up on yourself.
-
15:41 - 15:43PM: Billie, you have been
an inspiration for us. -
15:43 - 15:44BJK: Thanks, Pat!
-
15:44 - 15:48(Applause)
-
15:48 - 15:49Thanks, TED!
-
15:49 - 15:51(Applause)
-
15:51 - 15:52Thanks a lot!
- Title:
- This tennis icon paved the way for women in sports
- Speaker:
- Billie Jean King
- Description:
-
Tennis legend Billie Jean King isn't just a pioneer of women's tennis — she's a pioneer for women getting paid. In this freewheeling conversation, she talks about identity, the role of sports in social justice and the famous Battle of the Sexes match against Bobby Riggs.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- closed TED
- Project:
- TEDTalks
- Duration:
- 16:05
Camille Martínez edited English subtitles for This tennis icon paved the way for women in sports | ||
Brian Greene edited English subtitles for This tennis icon paved the way for women in sports | ||
Camille Martínez approved English subtitles for This tennis icon paved the way for women in sports | ||
Camille Martínez edited English subtitles for This tennis icon paved the way for women in sports | ||
Camille Martínez edited English subtitles for This tennis icon paved the way for women in sports | ||
Camille Martínez edited English subtitles for This tennis icon paved the way for women in sports | ||
Camille Martínez edited English subtitles for This tennis icon paved the way for women in sports | ||
Camille Martínez edited English subtitles for This tennis icon paved the way for women in sports |