Finding Empowerment Through Boxing – Women’s Media Center

Seventy years after Barbara Buttrick, the first competitive female boxer, became the first female boxer to have a fight broadcast on national TV, I find myself landing clean uppercuts into the worn-out heavy bag at my boxing gym.

Just five months earlier, I tentatively and self-consciously walked into the gym for my first lesson. For the past couple of years, I had been regularly active with running, soccer, tennis, weight training, SoulCycle, and workout classes, but tended to get bored a while with each. Boxing was intriguing because it was so different. I immediately noticed that the boxers in the room were exclusively male, except for my female friend and me. We exchanged nervous glances; my face was probably asking, Are we in the right place? What did I know about this testosterone-laden sport?

At first, I enjoyed the demands of the workout boxing required. I grew to love the feeling of strength and purpose my muscles experienced. Each hour I spent in the ring made me feel more confident, more in control, braver. I could see and feel my progress. As my friend and I attended our thrice weekly sessions, we shared a common, even secret bond of solidarity. As I felt myself becoming better, I also observed this same emboldened spirit in my friend. Every jab or block was intentional, purposeful, and accurate.

Initially, our 30-something male coach treated us politely yet casually, as though he did not believe we were there to learn the art of boxing. Or that we would stick with it. Over time, as he watched us progress and witnessed our determination, he began to take us seriously, and coach us with greater fervor and intensity.

Outside of the gym, I find myself becoming more physically and mentally agile. I’ve become more comfortable speaking up in public or being observed by audiences since I’m continually being constructively evaluated at the gym. I’ve learned not to hold back on my punches or footwork in the ring, and that mentality is becoming more of my DNA.

For me, what began out of curiosity and the search for a good workout blossomed into something that has encouraged me to grow more confident and demand more of myself than I thought possible. The test of physical strength, overcoming fear, and the realization that I can excel at this challenging sport have made me passionate about testing my limits. By forcing my body to be on high alert, it feels as though my brain has less room for anxiety or worry.

To the general public, I suspect few female names come to mind in the history of boxing. Maybe Barbara Buttrick, the pro boxer mentioned previously, or perhaps Rhonda Rousey (although Rousey isn’t technically a boxer; she’s an MMA fighter). I can easily…