“In the 1880s, women were decades away from earning the right to vote. Few owned property - if they were even permitted to do so. In addition to childcare obligations, many toiled in work that was either underpaid or not paid at all. Essentially, the gears of progress for women were moving slowly in just about every arena of life.”

American journalist and filmmaker

Mary Pilon is an American journalist and filmmaker who covers sports and business. She has written for major outlets including The New Yorker, Bloomberg Businessweek, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Her books include The Monopolists, The Kevin Show, Losers: Dispatches From the Other Side of the Scoreboard, and The Longest Race, which she co-authored with Olympian Kara Goucher. Her reporting and writing often reflect the worlds of competition, money, and the people shaped by both.