Dare to Make History

Chasing a Dream

Dare to Make History tells the story of twin sisters who fight for equal treatment. These courageous and talented women weren’t willing to accept anything less. First on their agenda was winning a gold medal in women’s ice hockey. On the way to that goal, they became role models of gender equity for generations to come.

Twins Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando grew up with four older brothers. In frigid North Dakota, they all played ice hockey. When they were little, the twins played with their four older brothers and their friends on a frozen pond next door. After that, no girls hockey teams, no problem―they just played on boys teams.

In time, they went on to achieve much hockey success. First, they won six World Championships. In addition, they played in three Olympics. Initially, they settled for two silver medals on the USA Women’s National Team. Ultimately, though, they earned a gold medal for the USA in South Korea in 2018.

Fighting for Equity

Roadblocks and discrimination didn’t deter them. For years, they and their teammates felt USA Hockey treated them unfairly. But with the 2017 World Championships approaching, they finally took a stand. They threatened to boycott the tournament that year. At the same time, they knew the 2018 Olympics were not far off. And this gambit could jeopardize the team’s qualification for the Olympics.

It all came down to gender equity. Would USA Hockey address their concerns? Rounds of tough negotiations followed. In the end, they hammered out a more equitable contract. First, the contract guaranteed them better pay. Second, they would receive equipment and facilities on par with the men’s team. Third, unique to them as women athletes, maternity leave was included. Finally, with contract in hand, the women’s team skated to victory in the World Championships and the Olympics.

Success on the ice thrust them into center stage off the ice. That is, they now engaged the struggle for gender equity. They realized more was at stake than TV time. Initially, this was a struggle for women in hockey. But now, their fight would have ripple effects in sports in general, as well as in society at large.

A Story of Courage

In Dare to Make History, the Lamoureux twins share their lives with us. They chronicle their journey to the pinnacle of their sport. Further, they were not alone. Along with almost 150 other players, they tried to start a new professional women’s hockey league. Moreover, following the 2018 Olympics, they each became a mother. Subsequently, they trained rigorously to come back and make another national team. Additionally, they moved beyond simple gender equity. Before long, their efforts expanded to include closing the digital divide. Beyond that, they continued their ongoing efforts as role models. After all, they lifted the torch on behalf of dreams. They championed women in sports. Thereby, they inspired girls to dream big. Further, they advocated for women’s education and women in the workplace.

This is not a hockey book. Nor is it a girls book. Rather, it is a book about the fight for equity. Particularly gender equity. It is the inspirational story of two young women from a small town in North Dakota. They dared to dream big. They also had the courage to take on huge battles. And in the end they dared to make history.

Read the story behind the book in Gold Medalist Sisters Fight for Equity in Groundbreaking Book, one of our author Success Stories.