Join IRIS NRC for a virtual film club discussion featuring Dr. Brenda Elsey, an expert on the history and politics of sport in the Americas, particularly soccer (fútbol). This conversation will explore the history of women’s soccer, the erasure of women athletes from sporting history, and the ways global sporting events like the Men’s World Cup continue to reflect broader questions of gender inequality and social change. With the start of the Men’s World Cup just weeks away, Dr. Elsey will discuss what the event tells us about gender inequality and the ongoing struggles for social change.
⚽ Register for a chance to receive a free copy of Dr. Elsey’s book, Futbolera: A History of Women and Sports in Latin America! ⚽
Participants are encouraged to watch Copa 71 (Dir. James Erskine and Rachel Ramsay, 2023) in advance of the discussion, though this is not required. The documentary tells the extraordinary story of the 1971 Women’s Soccer World Cup, a tournament witnessed by record crowds that was later written out of sporting history – until now. The documentary is available to stream on Kanopy or other platforms.
Dr. Elsey is the co-author of Futbolera: A History of Women and Sports in Latin America (University of Texas, 2019, with Joshua Nadel), which provided much of the historical context for the acclaimed documentary Copa 71. She also co-hosts the sport and feminism podcast Burn It All Down and serves as Development Lead in the Americas for the Fare Network, which works on anti-discrimination in global football.
This event is co-sponsored by European Studies, the International Studies Major, Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Program, and the 4W Initiative at UW-Madison.
