Parity

 Today in 1973, an unique battle took place on the tennis court… the Battle of the sexes! An advocate for gender equality for women from a young age, Billie Jean King accepted a challenge to play a match against former number 1-ranked tennis player Bobby Riggs.

 Riggs, a top men’s player in the 1930s and 40s, was now a 55-year-old self-described hustler and male chauvinist. He claimed the women’s game was so inferior to the men’s game that even someone as old as he was could beat the current top female players. He challenged and defeated Margaret Court 6–2, 6–1.

 Billie Jean had previously rejected challenges from Riggs but accepted his challenge and beat him in straight sets, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3, and earned the winner-take-all prize of $100,000. In doing so, she launched her fight for parity into the worldwide limelight.

 Parity is the quality or state of being equal or equivalent. Women have fought and continue to fight for parity with men in the workplace and elsewhere. The Battle for Parity await the deniers as well as the aspirants. And it must be fought to dispel the unfair disparity.

 For our world to overcome disparity

Get set ready for the Battle of Parity!

 - Pravin K Sabnis