Home| Introduction | Literature Review | Data and Analysis | Conclusion | Sources

This project revealed themes of nationalism, loyalty, and gender stereotypes that stemmed from the introduction of physical education, military training, and sports programs in schools. These programs highlight the expectations of young American boys during the World War I era and how the war increased the need for physical fitness. Military training and physical education had different means of shaping young boys, but both shared the common goal of advancing the nation and the US army. Boys were expected to be cooperative, competitive, and overall loyal. These traits would prepare them for manhood and even more importantly, prepare them for war. Furthermore, looking at draft records reveals information about geographic and racial divides that existed during the early 20^th century. Researching the impact of physical education programs during World War I on young boys reveals invaluable information about society and the geography of the US during that time.

To continue my research, I would want to study the evolution of youth sports programs and how they have shaped the current professional sports arena. During the war, boys were encouraged to play physical sports while girls were expected to partake in activities like dance. The trends of sports over time reveal societal expectations for both genders and which traits were regarded as most valuable in society. Although progress has been made, blatant sexism remains in sports and can be discouraging for both genders. With this in my mind, I think studying the history of children’s sports programs would help to deconstruct prominent gender divides in youth, collegiate, and professional sports.