Strong Women, Better World

Every story has a hero, every hero has a superpower, and when used with intentionality, sport is an incredible superpower in the fight for gender equality. Strong Women, Better World celebrates the global superheroes who use the potent mix of sport and education to kick down social, cultural, or political barriers and build stronger, more equitable communities. The book highlights nine members and alumnae of the Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP) Sisterhood, an award- winning sports diplomacy and mentorship exchange program implemented by the University of Tennessee’s Center for Sport, Peace, and Society (CSPS) in partnership with the U.S. Department of State and espnW. The stories of these nine superheroes are captivating examples of Title IX’s global ripple effect and illustrate how helping empower women and girls worldwide to achieve their own Title IX moments provides multidimensional wins for us all.

The Center for Sport, Peace, and Society at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville helps global leaders develop innovative solutions to socio-political challenges via sport, working to create a more peaceful, equitable, and inclusive world. Founded in 2012, the center works globally through higher education—and in partnership with the U.S. Department of State—to administer the Global Sports Mentoring Program, one of the Department’s flagship exchange programs.