Happy 35th Anniversary Title IX!
by: Amanda Brandtposted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Being a graduate of a single sex prep school, a devout soccer player and youth coach, I find myself contemplating the impact of Title IX on my life. Where would I be without the opportunities granted from this law? I came to the conclusion that thousands of women around the country, including myself, would find ourselves in very different situations. Even without recognition of its existence, women and girls alike are impacted by the legacy of Title IX. In light of its 35th anniversary, it seems fitting to highlight the law’s achievements thus far, as well as to ensure its existence for another 35 years to come.
Specifically, women’s soccer would not be in the fi ne state that it is
today if it were not for the enactment of Title IX. In fact, if not for Title
IX, women’s collegiate soccer might not exist at all. For those unaware
of this civil rights law, “Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
is the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education.”
Title IX says: “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 education program or activity
receiving Federal financial assistance.” This equal rights, education
based law is the sole reason young girls and women in this country
have the opportunity to participate in organized sports. For a female
athlete like me, it is impossible to imagine a world without sports, and,
more importantly, women’s soccer. Because of Title IX, girls no longer
need to prove themselves on the field alongside boys, and women’s
collegiate athletic programs no longer need to compete for funds with
football and male basketball programs. Instead, women now have the
opportunity to compete on a level playing field of their own.
Soccer in Hawaii is a growing force, just check out Waipio Soccer Park
on any given weekend. I would argue that soccer is also our largest,
diversified community involved sport. Women’s soccer is made even
more prominent and visible due to the successes of our own University
of Hawaii Wahine soccer program and the Women’s World Cup with
Hawaii native and former Wahine, Natasha Kai. UH and the Women’s
World Cup players set an example for aspiring female athletes and serve
as role models for girls who might not necessarily know about college
athletics. Moreover, the USA Women’s National team, the Wahine, as
well as all other female college programs, are the direct results of the
implementation of Title IX many years ago.
Inner collegiately, the law serves to set the pace for female athletes; “Title
IX requires schools and colleges receiving federal funds to give women
and girls an equal chance to play sports and to treat men and women
equally when it comes to athletic scholarships and other benefits
like equipment, coaching and facilities.” Universities nationwide are
stepping up their game to meet Title IX regulations. Unfortunately, many
throughout the U.S still have a ways to go. Here’s some food for thought
taken from the NCAA Gender Equity Report from 2003-2004…
Female college athletes receive only:
• 38% of sports operating dollars, $1.17 billion less than male college
athletes
• 45% of college athletic scholarship dollars, $148 million less fewer
scholarship dollars than male athletes
• 33% of athletic team recruitment spending, $43 million less recruiting
female athletes than male athletes
• On the contrary, men’s soccer programs are diminishing on a national
level while women’s soccer seems to be fl ourishing. Does this rise in
women’s soccer undermine the men’s side? Absolutely not!
NCAA Sports Sponsorship 2004-2005, data is as follows:
• From 1988-1989 to 2003-2004 NCAA members institutions have
added 2,346 sports for men while dropping 2,276 men’s sports
during that same period for a net gain of 70; while adding for women
3,592 sports and dropping 1,490 sports for a net gain of 2,102
• It appears NCAA Div. 1 institutions are dropping men’s sports teams
in order to put more resources into basketball and football.
Interestingly enough,
• From 1988-1989 to 2004-2005 NCAA Div. 1 schools suffered a net
loss of 239 men’s teams while Div. II added 44, Div. III added 265 net
gains
These statistics clearly demonstrate the power Title IX has had and
the impact it can still make upon future generations. It is important to
squash the myths and recognize that Title IX does not cut into inner
collegiate men’s sports funding; the allocation of which is determined
by what sells publically, football and basketball.
Unfortunately, what we female athletes now take for granted could
also be taken away from us. To avoid this, inform yourself and make a
conscious effort to educate others on the impact of Title IX. Get involved.
Parents with daughters and young women reading this, take note that
there are organizations out there fighting to ensure the continued
success and longevity of Title IX. Check out organizations like Fair Play
Now! www.fairplaynow.org Fair Play Now! is committed to recruiting
people who support Title IX and takes action by sending emails and
educating teams and players to ensure that girls everywhere have
equal access to play and enjoy the benefits of sports.
Happy Anniversary Title IX! May you have many, many more years of
success to come. Thank you for greatly improving my life and to getting
where I am today as well as the lives of countless young girls and women
in all aspects of athletics and equal education opportunity.
Specifically, women’s soccer would not be in the fi ne state that it is
today if it were not for the enactment of Title IX. In fact, if not for Title
IX, women’s collegiate soccer might not exist at all. For those unaware
of this civil rights law, “Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
is the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education.”
Title IX says: “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 education program or activity
receiving Federal financial assistance.” This equal rights, education
based law is the sole reason young girls and women in this country
have the opportunity to participate in organized sports. For a female
athlete like me, it is impossible to imagine a world without sports, and,
more importantly, women’s soccer. Because of Title IX, girls no longer
need to prove themselves on the field alongside boys, and women’s
collegiate athletic programs no longer need to compete for funds with
football and male basketball programs. Instead, women now have the
opportunity to compete on a level playing field of their own.
Soccer in Hawaii is a growing force, just check out Waipio Soccer Park
on any given weekend. I would argue that soccer is also our largest,
diversified community involved sport. Women’s soccer is made even
more prominent and visible due to the successes of our own University
of Hawaii Wahine soccer program and the Women’s World Cup with
Hawaii native and former Wahine, Natasha Kai. UH and the Women’s
World Cup players set an example for aspiring female athletes and serve
as role models for girls who might not necessarily know about college
athletics. Moreover, the USA Women’s National team, the Wahine, as
well as all other female college programs, are the direct results of the
implementation of Title IX many years ago.
Inner collegiately, the law serves to set the pace for female athletes; “Title
IX requires schools and colleges receiving federal funds to give women
and girls an equal chance to play sports and to treat men and women
equally when it comes to athletic scholarships and other benefits
like equipment, coaching and facilities.” Universities nationwide are
stepping up their game to meet Title IX regulations. Unfortunately, many
throughout the U.S still have a ways to go. Here’s some food for thought
taken from the NCAA Gender Equity Report from 2003-2004…
Female college athletes receive only:
• 38% of sports operating dollars, $1.17 billion less than male college
athletes
• 45% of college athletic scholarship dollars, $148 million less fewer
scholarship dollars than male athletes
• 33% of athletic team recruitment spending, $43 million less recruiting
female athletes than male athletes
• On the contrary, men’s soccer programs are diminishing on a national
level while women’s soccer seems to be fl ourishing. Does this rise in
women’s soccer undermine the men’s side? Absolutely not!
NCAA Sports Sponsorship 2004-2005, data is as follows:
• From 1988-1989 to 2003-2004 NCAA members institutions have
added 2,346 sports for men while dropping 2,276 men’s sports
during that same period for a net gain of 70; while adding for women
3,592 sports and dropping 1,490 sports for a net gain of 2,102
• It appears NCAA Div. 1 institutions are dropping men’s sports teams
in order to put more resources into basketball and football.
Interestingly enough,
• From 1988-1989 to 2004-2005 NCAA Div. 1 schools suffered a net
loss of 239 men’s teams while Div. II added 44, Div. III added 265 net
gains
These statistics clearly demonstrate the power Title IX has had and
the impact it can still make upon future generations. It is important to
squash the myths and recognize that Title IX does not cut into inner
collegiate men’s sports funding; the allocation of which is determined
by what sells publically, football and basketball.
Unfortunately, what we female athletes now take for granted could
also be taken away from us. To avoid this, inform yourself and make a
conscious effort to educate others on the impact of Title IX. Get involved.
Parents with daughters and young women reading this, take note that
there are organizations out there fighting to ensure the continued
success and longevity of Title IX. Check out organizations like Fair Play
Now! www.fairplaynow.org Fair Play Now! is committed to recruiting
people who support Title IX and takes action by sending emails and
educating teams and players to ensure that girls everywhere have
equal access to play and enjoy the benefits of sports.
Happy Anniversary Title IX! May you have many, many more years of
success to come. Thank you for greatly improving my life and to getting
where I am today as well as the lives of countless young girls and women
in all aspects of athletics and equal education opportunity.
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on 03/24/2008