One experience from personal experiences also illustrates the changes in how Title IX has affected sports. The first story takes place at Stanford University, a school with an athletic program that has been at the forefront of gender equity in sports. Boschert describes how the school’s Title IX, coordinator, Katie Martens, works tirelessly to ensure compliance with the law. Martens monitors the athletic department’s budget, ensure equal treatment of male and female athletes, and investigates complaints of discrimination. Her efforts have paid off, with the school receiving high marks for compliance with Title IX.
In the article, “Title IX defeats male athletes” by Ann Coulter, she says that male’s teams are being decimated in pursuit of an insane feminist dream that has morphed into feral policy: to make women’s sports equal to men’s, but really this shouldn’t have happened. Women play different sports than men do, sports are all different, and they shouldn’t have to be equal. Some sports are for men, some sports are for women, and some sports are for both. Some of the sports that are for men, could be too competitive or too complicated, but the sports that are for women exist so that women don’t have to play a sport that might be too hard for them. So in a way, men’s and women’s sports are already equal if you think about it because there is something for men to play and something for women
Writes “Often cited are cuts of men’s sports programs to make room for more women’s teams under the mandate of Title IX.” Barbara Sheehan points out that because of Title IX, guys are having to sit in the “sidelines” because their team is getting cut. A simple solution for this in directly in the law. “ The federal courts of appeals uniformly have rejected legal challenges to Title IX—holding that Title IX in no way requires schools to cut men’s teams, but that schools may choose to structure their athletics programs however they wish as long as they treat men and women equally.” (Sports)
Women were supposed to be secretaries, teachers, and homemakers but never athletes. By requiring public Universities to create women’s sports teams, Women were able to gain a lot of new opportunities. As a result of Title IX sports participation rates among women
Title IX was meant to order change in American education by illiminating discrimination on gender, but instead it still has problems and could use some improvement. One of the main splits between men and women athletics is the pay gaps between the two sexes. The salary difference between the United States Mens and Womens National Teams proves this. For example, “Each player on the USWNT earns $99,000 per year provided the team wins 20 “friendlies” (exhibition matches), the minimum number of matches they would play. By contrast, each men’s player would earn $263,320 for the same feat and would still earn $100,000 if the team lost all 20 games,” (Walters 3).
“Imagine a bold plan for a world without discrimination in which women and men are equal partners in shaping their society and lives” (Nicole Kidman). Girls playing boy sports is something that needs to happen, boy sports such as football, baseball, and etc. Today people are starting to realize why girls are not allowed to play boy sports. All girls should be allowed to play boy sports for the following reasons: boys and girls have the same muscle structure, girls express themselves sometimes through sports, some girls play better than boys , and boys and girls are equal.
Heightening Our Awareness of Gender Stereotypes by Phoebe Constaninou discusses the different ways there are gender bias in schools, specifically the gymnasium. When the topic “gender bias” comes up, most educators think it only affects females. While the Title IX helped make way for females, many thought it was not an issue anymore. Since more than forty percent of athletes are females and they did well on standardized tests, gender bias must be over. Constaninou identifies the different situations where gender bias is still pertinent, and not just for females.
“ No person… shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination” ( Wong). Within sports, many females get discriminated due to being “weak” or less interesting to watch. Some get less pay for having not equal amounts of participation as men do. The main issues are whether or not females and men should receive equal pay grade and whether if one does not participate as much which should they get the same attention. Equal pay grade may determine whether females play just as much as men and participate.
The three articles selected are entitled “The Gender Gap in Sport Performance: Equity Influences Equality” by Laura Capranica et al. , “100 Women: Is The Gender Pay Gap in Sport Really Closing?” by Valeria Perasso and “Gender Bias in American Sports: Lack of Opportunity, Lack of Administrative Positions and Lack of Coverage in Women’s Sports” by Erik F. Person. Generally, these three articles discussed about the gender gap in the field of sports which is often ignored and neglected. The gender gap in sports included a few aspects such as opportunity, media coverage, pay and sponsorship as well as participation and position.
From my early childhood, I have been exposed to many examples of gender construction without realizing it, some of which I have experienced for myself. I remember one time in middle school when I tried out for the track team, I was deemed to be less proficient in the sport compared to a male that was trying out. The track team was a co-ed team. To me, it seemed like an opportunity that promoted gender equality since many sports are separated based on one’s gender. However, I remember a few boys giving me downgrading looks as though girls weren’t allowed to play the sport.
In inclusion to having a good body image and being healthy, women participating in sports gives them a higher chance to graduate from school or college than those who do not play sports. Furthermore, athletic participation gives several students a chance for a higher education where it helps many middle/low-income students who may not be able to afford college, giving them access to this higher education. According to “Her Life Depends on it II” (2009), involvement in sports teaches women important professional lessons that have lifelong influence. For example, 80 percent of women identified as key leaders in Fortune 500 companies had participated in sports while growing up. Furthermore, 82 percent of executive businesswomen played sports, with the major part saying lessons learned on the playing field contributed to their success.
If society stops to understand the struggles these women have been facing for decades will have a clearer picture of what steps to take in order to make a change in the sports industry. Men need to put their masculinity aside and advocate giving women a voice. The purpose of this paper is to explore the issues women in the sport world have faced through history, wage gaps, current issues today, and to discuss findings and recommendations for future research. Title IX is a law that came into effect in 1972, this comprehensive federal law prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity.
In society, sports media heavily favors men and not women. For example, when turning on ESPN, you are constantly watching baseball and football highlights which are sports that only give opportunities to males. Due to this, girls are faced with a lack of positive role models to look up to and aspire to be (Roper, 2013). In our society, sports are looked at as being masculine and geared toward males. Fear of social evaluation, anxiety related to playing a specific sport, and the expectedness to fulfill their expected social roles give males the competitive advantage (Roper, 2013).
For example, Title IX has empowered women not only in sports, but also in education and work. Marj Snyder, chief program officer of the Women's Sports Foundation, stated the number of women undergraduates before Title IX was a mere 35% ,and now the number has risen to 57% (Nauen). The rising number of female undergraduates is a direct correlation to Title IX, this proves the that Title IX has changed lives of women on and off the field. Correspondingly, in a report of the twenty-five years with Title IX, the Department of educations states that “the critical values learned from sports participation--including teamwork, standards, leadership, discipline, self-sacrifice, and pride in accomplishment -- are being brought to the workplace as women enter employment in greater numbers” (qtd. In Nauen).
“Female discrimination in sports is a common occurrence all around the world, women are seen as less than males.” (Ladrea) Equality in sports is unequal. In the 1800 women got very little attention and did not get the opportunity to play in any sport in America and all around the world. Men could go and try out for different sports teams and workout but for women they were only allowed to stay home to cook and clean. There were some events women could participate in but it could not be competitive, it was focused on getting active and staying active.
