The Challenges And Discrimination Of The Title IX Law

The literature review of this article focuses on Title IX itself, as well as statistical numbers that provide the reader knowledge about the impact it has had. Title IX is a comprehensive federal law that has removed many barriers that once prevented people, on the basis of sex, from participating in educational opportunities and careers of their choice (Bower & Hums, 2013). Acosta and Carpenter (2012) reported that the number of female athletes playing college sports has risen from 16,000 in 1968 to over 200,000 in 2012. Although the increased number of opportunities has provided women the chance to participate in the sport, the percentage of women coaching women’s teams has decline over time from 90% in 1972 to 42.9% in 2012 (Acosta & Carpenter, 2012). Alongside coaching is the lack of women working in intercollegiate administration. In 1972, the percentage of female athletic directors overseeing women’s programs was 90%, Today, the percentage of female athletic directors is 20.3%, a small increase from 2010

Imagine being a female athlete before 1972, you practice playing basketball everyday just like the boys do, but they have multiple scholarship opportunities to go to college where as females do not. They tell you to be a cheerleader or work in the kitchen and stay at home, but in your heart you are a competitor and have a passion for sports. This is a feeling that many females felt before Title IX; was explicated to give female’s gender equality in sports. Title IX has positively affected women’s sports over the years, but can negatively impact men’s teams, especially within the collegiate field. Title IX has changed budgeting and participation numbers between males and females, while opening up several opportunities for women. I am going to inform you how Title IX affects females and males in collegiate and high school sports, the history about Title IX, facts and statistics, how it has positively changed the way women participate in sports, and what it has to do with race and minorities.

Title IX is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity (2015). Title IX covers 10 key areas including: education, athletics, careers, employment, learning environments, technology, sexual harassment, testing, Math and Science, and education for pregnant and parenting students (2016). The law was passed in 1972 (2016). One of the most striking figures of the Title IX movement was Billie Jean King. King was a renowned tennis player and huge advocate for gender equality (2013). Despite having to endure both private and public battles, she never gave up on fighting for what she believed in (2013). Although King is often seen as someone who fought for women’s right she continually points out that she was fighting for “equal opportunity for both boys and girls” (2013). Title IX mainly focuses on helping women and young girls gain gender equality in common places but it can affect men

The idea of equity in society particularly in athletics has been a major topic in athletics for many years. However, in spite of the long and storied history of the fight for equity in athletics we still see a lot of misunderstanding especially involving one particular law. This law is Title IX which has a number of awful misconceptions associated with it even from female athletes themselves. One misconception that is very popular especially among the critics of Title IX is the idea that “Title IX exists to force to schools to drop men’s sport’s”(Kane, pg. 3). This is something that was reinforced by an report authored by Dr. Mary Jo Kane who is a Professor at the University of Minnesota regarding the 40th anniversary of Title IX. Dr. Kane indicated that she opens her sport sociology class discussions on Title IX by asking her class what they know about this subject. Dr. Kane indicated in her report that Title IX “remains a mystery to the vast majority of her students, both male and female” (Kane, pg. 3). Dr. Kane goes on to point out the misconception mentioned above is commonly said by her students including her female D1 scholarship athletes who are the ones that have benefitted most from this law. Overall Title IX is a great law even if it is a law that takes a lot of bad press although this is largely due to the actions or in some cases lack thereof from the leaders who reside in college athletics.

In cases like these, men observe the changes that are being made specifically in favor of women. By deciding that men and women should have equal opportunities, men have faced more cutbacks. Since the transition to sports, the majority of those cutbacks have involved sports. Patrick McAndrews proves this in his article by saying, “ In 2009, more men's programs have been eliminated throughout the county than ever before” (111). Since 2009, the number of male programs that have been cut has increased. This contradicts the entire purpose of Title IX. COME BACK TO

The creation of Title IX in 1972 banned gender discrimination in schools nationwide, particularly in sports (Huffman 4). Without it, superstar female athletes such as Lisa Leslie, Mia Hamm, or the Williams sisters would not be internationally famous. They also would not have the media exposure they get in sports without Title IX. In addition to the few that were just named, media is focusing more and more on female athletes such as Michelle Wie and this year's winter Olympic silver medalist in figure skating, Sasha Cowen. In conjunction with the popularity of female athletes, Title IX has pushed for equality over the past three decades. In Suzanna Huffman's article from "Mass Communication and Society," it states that "Title IX has encouraged school administrators to work toward gender equity in athletic spending, and now many more women participate in college sports and earn college athletic scholarships than in years past" (4). Although this statement is generalized, it is close to the truth in today's culture among men and women. The impact that Title IX has bestowed on women has created a positive outcome. It is astonishing to see what one document in 1972 can do to increase equality for women, yet create so many controversies with it.

In order for schools to allow and equal set of opportunities for all female sports there must first be space at the school and in the schools budget. Consequently, due to the fact that around the time the law was created the number of male sports were dominant compared to female sports, the schools had to eliminate the count of male sports. A large amount of male students attempted to sue this law as stated by CBS news. The male athletes claimed that by the way the law was being enforced, they felt that their athletics departments were “losing out” to women departments. During a 60 minutes report the women who ran and swam their way through college with the assistance of athletic scholarships were called the daughters of Title IX. For instance, Julie Foudy who claims that Title IX is the blaim for her success of being a professional athlete and the reason she was the captain of a team that won the world cup. Julie remarked upon Title IX with statements such as “We were Title IX babies,” and “I think it all, it all trails back to Title IX, for sure.” For Foudy the law opened doors for opportunist and success for the male students this just so happens to not be the case. In order to comply with Title IX, the schools had to effectuate with what's called proportionality. (CBS news) Proportionality states that the portion of the school that is female must also be the portion of athletes that is female. Therefore setting

Over two decades have passed since the enactment of Title IX, a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded education, including athletics. As a result of Title IX, women and girls have benefited from more athletic participation opportunities and more equitable facilities. Because of Title IX, more women have received athletic scholarships and thus opportunities for higher education that some may not have been able to afford otherwise. In addition, because of Title IX the salaries of coaches for women's teams have increased. Despite the obstacles women face in athletics, many women have led and are leading the way to gender equity.

This law provides that no person, despite their gender, may be denied any funding in a program that receives federal assistance. It is also dependent on one of three factors, the most important being that it is based on the ratio of the student body. For example, if a school has a male to female ratio of 60:40, then the funds must be allocated so that forty percent of the school’s athletic budget meets the criteria to provide for the percentage of female students. As a result, many men’s collegiate athletics programs have been cut in order to provide financial space for women’s teams, despite some of these men’s programs being incredibly successful. While Title IX has succeeded in its mission for women, it should be revised in order to prevent the reduction of successful men’s athletic

In January of 2011, Delaware University announced that it was discontinuing its men’s wrestling, swimming, tennis, and gymnastics programs (Gottesdiener, 2011). Organizations like this are being diminished and discarded at an ever-increasing rate all across America. College and high school students competing in these athletic events are truly passionate about their chosen sport. In many cases, promising athletes are offered scholarships, initiating a symbiotic relationship between the student and the school they play for. In 1972, a new legislation was put forward with the intent of leveling the school-sponsored playing field. “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal funding” (What Is Title IX, 2014). This law is widely accepted as being an invaluable catalyst for the momentous success in female athletics today. Although Title IX has without a doubt been incredibly beneficial to female sports programs, it has not too recently been the source of some heavy speculation. With justifiable evidence, and passionate fervor, male athletes across America are declaring that Title IX is synonymous with injustice. Title IX was necessary in 1972, but it is now outdated and hindering male athletics. Two conflicting arguments, both with substantial claim, leave room for all but one solution. Title IX, although once

Title IX was signed in 1972 and states that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance” (Anderson). With the law being signed in, a 560% increase of participation at the college level and 990% increase at the high school level (“Title IX Myths and Facts”). This shows that women are interested in getting involved and playing and participating in sports but the lack of opportunity kept females from getting involved at both levels. Given the opportunity to tryout for a team or even play recreationally, women jump at the chance.

As stated previously, women have a much lower interest in competing in athletics, statistically speaking. For example, high schools must also obey the regulations put into play by Title IX by offering the same number of sports teams for each gender, thus giving high school students equal opportunities to participate in athletics. However, even though both male and females are offered the same opportunities, 1.4 million fewer females choose to compete in high school sports than males. Based on recent reports from the 2010-11 academic year from the state high school athletic associations from all 50 states, sports participation among genders is approximately 4.5 million boys, or 60% of total participation, as compared to approximately 3.1 million girls, or only 40% of total participation.(Toporek) Although this statistic clearly

According to research presented by Becky Vest and Gerald Masterson, records show that two years after Title IX was voted into law approximately 50,000 men and les than 80 women were under athletic scholarship. By 1997 one-third of all the athletic scholarship money was awarded to women. While this may be the case, the number of female participants in athletic programs has grown stagnant and does not equal the number of male participants. The opportunities offered however, are equal. Title IX does not mandate that schools have an equal amount of participation between males and females, but that the institution must present equal opportunities to both males and females.

Multiple sports currently played by both men and women have had a tremendous impact by Title IX.Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 simply bans gender discrimination allowing equal participation by males and females in any sport of their choice (Cummings 182). Through this portion of the Education Amendments of 1972, women have gained more playing opportunities and caused athletic departments to expand. Permitting women to participate in sports, provides many benefits to sports teams participation wise. SInce women are no longer allowed to be denied the chance to play on a team because of their gender, more teams must be created in order to fulfill this order. The impact of Title IX has reached high school and college level athletics. Just in 1980, the percentage of female college athletes increased from 15% (1971) to 30 percent, practically doubling (Title 73). High school sports have evidently been greatly influenced by Title IX. Back in 1971, 249,000 females participated in high school sports while last year (2013), there were 2.7 million participants, a significant increase (Murr 557-68). Not only have sport teams gained a large amount of female players, but they have also increased in popularity for this reason. Many minor sports, such as soccer and field hockey, have had a huge increase in both male and female participants, ranking them higher (Stevenson 486-505). Having participation from both genders allows one sport to gain popularity amongst others.

In order to comply with Title IX the schools had to effectuate with what's called proportionality. (CBS news) Proportionality states that the portion of the school that is female must also be the portion of athletes that is female. Therefore setting a balance between the schools ratio and the athletic ratios and also enforcing Title IX. The problem that balancing caused was that the school had to add more women sports which cost more money to the school, or choose to cancel some of the schools male sports. Subsequently, the schools had to do what was best for the school and to avoid going into debt for sports the male sports had to be put on the burner. Many schools cut male wrestling, track and field, tennis, and gymnastics teams instead of adding women sports. Jason Lewis a gymnasts whose team was eliminated said that the number of men’s teams are dwindling because colleges are dropping what are called the minor men's sports, the ones that don't draw crowds or make money, and investing more and more in just one sport – football. The Fact that just twenty-three years ago, there was 107 men's gymnastics teams in this nation, now there are only 20 teams left just so happens to prove Lewis's statement to be true.(CBS news)