The YWCA Movement and the Sport Work in the Early Republican China,1911-1937 Yan Hong
Shanghai University of Sport
Abstract
This research is about how the Young Women^s Christian Association use Physical Education Department^s work to advance the YWCA Movement in China. This article adopts methods of documentation, case study and delphi. It argues that YWCA^s Physical Education Department used the YWCA Normal School of Hygiene and Physical Education to teach health courses, as well as promote a new body culture and nurture physical education teacher in Chinese girls. Secondly, the leader Vera Barger of the YWCA^s Physical Education Department push the recreation program in mass health to bring the new sports and the idea of recreation in China. Thirdly, YWCA^s Physical Education Department help Chinese women to take part in the Far Eastern Championship Games, and training their sports skills. However, In the later period, Abby Shawn Mayhew discourages women from participating in sports due to her competitive mentality, to a certain extent hinder the development of female athletes. As is shown that YWCA^s physical education department has provided Chinese women with a shelter, training female physical education teachers and spreading the women^s sports in China. They have completed the empowerment of Chinese women through give ownership of the YWCA Normal School of Hygiene and Physical Education, nurture Chinese leader and given new ideas of new women. The YWCA has made great contributions to the development of women^s sports， and at the same time they have spread Christianity in China.
Keywords: new women , Vera Barger, Women^s Physical Culture, Young Women^s Christian Association
