Title IX

Written by: Kate Pietruszkiewicz

Simone Biles, the Williams sisters, Candice Parker…. You’ve probably heard of these female sports stars, right? But that list of sensational athletes goes on so much longer. The historic women of our past articles have opened up so many opportunities by showing and proving to the world what girls can do. Now the problem that stands in our way is recognition. If we can do it just as well as men, then why aren’t we getting treated like it? 

Well, back in 1972, The U.S. Department of Education did make a move for change. At that time, girls were still thought to be unfit for sports and were therefore denied the recruitment, admissions, counseling, financial assistance, and athletics that were offered to men at the same schools. Imagine having to practice your sport late, after dinner, on a weeknight, because that’s the only time that the boys team wasn’t practicing. That’s what the Brown University women’s swimming team endured to get their training in, and most other women athletes at the time could relate; practicing with no equipment, no locker rooms, and no gyms. Once Title IX came about, all educational programs and activities receiving federal funding were required to abide by the statement 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”. This now applies to approximately 17,600 local school districts and over 5,000 postsecondary institutions, where girls and boys don’t have to participate in the same sports, but they must have the same number of teams offered.

The participation of girls in sports has increased from 1 in 27 to 1 in 3 in the 50 years since Title IX was enforced, but they still only get 5.4% of the televised coverage on sports channels.  Girls all over are putting in the work and accomplishing the unheard of, but very few have the honor of seeing them. In 2019, the Women’s World Cup made up 1.9% of that small amount, meaning that since the World Cup only comes around once every four years, the media coverage in the off years is 3.5%.

With the US Women’s National Soccer Team generating so much TV attention, it’s only fair and expected that they, as well as the teams from other countries, get rewarded, right? Because sadly, while the dream as a child may just be to play in front of a sold out stadium, ultimately a career in sports is still a career. The average American woman earns only 81% of what a man would in the same role. In basketball for example, an NBA player will make 8,321,937 dollars a year and a WNBA player will make 75,181 dollars. That stat is alarming on its own, but the biggest discrepancy comes between the highest paid men and women sports stars. In 2019, the soccer star Lionel Messi made 125% more than Serena Williams. Think about that: Tennis is the highest paying women’s sport, and Serena has been the most talented and accomplished athlete in that field for the past 27 years. She is arguably the greatest woman athlete across the globe. If the greatest of all time, with 23 Grand Slam titles and 4 Olympic gold medals to prove it, can’t get equal treatment, then how can the rising stars survive in the competition?

By continuing to play and continuing to impress, we prove that we are worthy of a spot and worthy of acknowledgment. So, with so much going on in the world right now, let’s try to take a break, play sports, and celebrate the Women’s History month that is earned every day. Sports connect athletes, fans, and viewers from all over and whether you are playing or watching, you’ve always got a team. Getting absorbed in a game provides the inspiration and support to face whatever your challenge may be. Watching these women do their thing and dominate across the fields and courts, connects us to a cause. What they are doing is pushing us forward, into a future of equal playing opportunities and recognition!

https://online.adelphi.edu/articles/male-female-sports-salary/
​https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/tix_dis.html