Gender and Sports: How equitable are sport opportunities for girls and women?

http://www.feminist.org/sports/titleIXfactsheet.asp

 

          In American Sport in the 21^st century on November 18, 2014, we learned about gender and sports. We were working towards answering the question of “how equitable are sport opportunities for girls and women?” First, we learned that participation by girls and women has increased dramatically since the early 1980s, mainly due to new opportunities, global women’s rights movement, increased media coverage of women’s sports, and government equal rights legislation. In an article written by the Feminist Majority Foundation, they explained that because of Title IX, girls and women have received more opportunities. More women have received athletic scholarships which can lead to more opportunities for higher education. This leads to my next point that Title IX was not created to simply give girls and women and equitable opportunity in sports, but in every aspect of federally funded education programs. These include areas such as career education, employment, technology, sexual harassment, and standardized testing. Title IX opened the door for women and girls to gain more opportunities in all aspects. In the article, it was explained that in 1972 Congress passed the legislation as part of the Higher Education Amendments. The document does not allow discrimination on the underrepresented sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. This fact directly correlates to what we learned in class. Third, we learned that with Title IX there are legal standards that have to be upheld by any school that receives financial assistance by the government for their athletic department in order for the organization to be in compliance. There is a three prong test that takes place. The Proportionality Test, The History of Progress Test, and The Accommodation of Interest Test are the three tests that are used. In the article, The Foundation explained that the implementation of Title IX has been subverted. It was not until 1975 that the regulations were implemented. Even then, the Office for Civil Rights did not enforce the regulations. We learned that 80% of schools and organizations are not in compliance with the Title IX regulations. Although looking at the facts, girls and women have expanded in sports. By the number in the article today, we see that has increased to 2.7 million from 300,000 that is was before Title IX. We see that sport opportunities have gotten better for women and that there are more equitable opportunities for them. Although most organizations are not in compliance, there is a benefit and a positive outlook for girls and women in sports.