Billy Sunday, Masculinity in 20th century America, and the real hero here - Helen Sunday

“Why Women Loved Billy Sunday” by Margaret Bendroth seems to suggest that women in the early 20th century were so enthralled by Billy Sunday because of the sheer masculinity he brought to the pulpit and the dugout. I can see the argument she makes here and she makes it very well, however, I think there is a lot more to be said about women in the early 20th century, even in the case of women who were experiencing religious revival. The early 20th century in America was an incredible and vulnerable time for women. Women were working, more than ever before, toward political equality and labor capabilities outside of their homes. The particular setting she keeps coming back to - Boston in the year 1917, was a crucial area and year in the Women’s Suffrage Movement. I think that the average woman in this time period had better things to worry about than going to hear Billy Sunday speak. There has to be more to the story than his masculinity drawing in women who were probably strong and empowered in their own right. 

This read also could be understood as belittling of his wife, Helen. In his own book, Helen is referred to as “She… who holds her generous, careless husband down to a realization of the practicalities of life.” (pg. 47.) It is further explained that she was the primary business runner of her husband’s ministry, that he was “helpless” without her input and guidance. (pg. 47.) She was also incredibly influential in his learning how to address large crowds. (pg. 48.) This doesn’t add up, in my mind, to the sort of “masculine” figure that could draw huge crowds of women, fighting over seats in an arena to hear him speak. Bendroth does touch on a few other reasons why this phenomenon may have occurred, but overall the masculinity argument in relationship with the context of Sunday just doesn’t have me convinced.