TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28 - TITLE IX AND WOMEN

 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 TITLE IX AND WOMEN ATHLETICS

First, we need to figure out what this Title IX thing is.  Technically it is Title Nine - but uses the Roman Numerals IX to represent “nine”. 

“Athletic programs are considered educational programs and activities. Title IX gives women athletes the right to equal opportunity in sports in educational institutions that receive federal funds, from elementary schools to colleges and universities. While there are few private elementary, middle school, or high schools that receive federal funds, almost all colleges and universities, private and public, receive such funding.

The penalty for non-compliance with Title IX is the withdrawal of federal funds. Despite the fact that most estimates are that 80 to 90 percent of all educational institutions are not in compliance with Title IX as it applies to athletics, such withdrawal of federal moneys has never been initiated. When institutions are determined to be out of compliance with the law, the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) finds them “in compliance conditioned on remedying identified problems.”

This comes from: What is Title IX? - Women's Sports Foundation (womenssportsfoundation.org)

And, yes, title IX does apply to all activities:

“ Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in any federally-funded education program or activity”  Relative recent clarifications include transgender students.

*****

I found this article interesting as “that most estimates are that 80 to 90 percent of all educational institutions are NOT in compliance with Title IX as it applies to athletics”

*****

When I was at Quinnipiac, the athletic program was not in compliance with Title IX.  There were more women students than males, but the ratio of student-athletes (females to males) was not close.  The university had to adjust its female athletic programs to balance the inequity.  The current website lists seven men's teams and eleven female teams to work towards a balance.  This includes four teams that are female-only: aerobatics and tumbling team, a rugby team, field hockey, and only golf.  (I didn’t compare baseball to softball as the numbers would tend to be equal.) (Other sports do happen on campus, but are ‘team sports” and not inter-collegiate sports).

On campuses that have football (which has the tendency to put a huge number of males on a team).  “An NCAA football program must have at minimum of 65 full athletic scholarships and no women’s sport comes close to that number.”.  Yes, there needs to be a balance in athletic scholarships that also reflects male/female balance.  (Hmmm - if I went to a football-crazy school and was determined to be a female athlete (hey - I can play granny basketball), I might get an athletic scholarship easier than a male can.)

*****

But, the intent is to provide equal access to men and women in all aspects of college.  

*****

Back in the “Jim Crow” days, the concept of “separate but equal” was held for white schools and black schools.  Separate was widespread, but equality was not always truly equal.  As the community grew, white students got new high schools and the old high schools became schedules for black children.  In very similar ways Title IC attempts really make equality part of the athletic programs.  For the top tier football schools that have stadiums that seat up to 100,000 people.  The University of Michigan can seat 107,601 fans - but seating is not part of student sports equality.  

There are some schools and some programs that have excellent women’s programs.  The University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball team has been very successful over the years and the basketball arena is also almost sold out for home games.  

But locker rooms, workout rooms, practice facilities are to be close to equal.  

*****

The overall attempt of Title IX has been good.  

Of course, there are inequities that can’t really be fixed.  If you are watching college sports this fall, you probably are watching college football and not watching college volleyball (as a female sport).  When “March Madness” occurs CBS and other major channels will show men’s basketball games and women’s basketball games might be on ESPN.  But, those are outside governmental oversight.  Advertisers want to reach larger audiences and advertising on Alabama versus Auburn football game would get a much bigger audience than televising the Alabama versus Auburn field hockey game!!!

*****

Tomorrow, my comments on a non-college sport - Granny Basketball!!!  WOOHOO!!!

And, Thursday I will try to take a tough question - paying college athletes!!!

LOVE WINS!!

Karen