Women and college sport The AIAW (Inter Collegiate Athletics for Women ) was established in 1971 and by 1980 the NCAA accepted that womens sport was important.

Women and college sportWomen and college sport

• The AIAW (Inter Collegiate Athletics for Women ) The AIAW (Inter Collegiate Athletics for Women ) was established in 1971 and by 1980 the NCAA was established in 1971 and by 1980 the NCAA accepted that women’s sport was important.accepted that women’s sport was important.

• The AIWA was abolished in 1983, as it had The AIWA was abolished in 1983, as it had achieved its purpose.achieved its purpose.

• Basketball is the most popular game for women Basketball is the most popular game for women in the colleges.in the colleges.

• It grew quickly in 1980 after the Civil Rights Act It grew quickly in 1980 after the Civil Rights Act 1964 which gave equality to black people to have 1964 which gave equality to black people to have education and join sports teams.education and join sports teams.

• Sports have now been structured regionally Sports have now been structured regionally under the charge of the NCAA.under the charge of the NCAA.

National College Athletic Association (the main section or the big 10)

National Athletic Association (smaller colleges)

Regional Conferences

College Sports

Women’s basketball

• Until recently women’s role in sport Until recently women’s role in sport has been more supportive e.g. has been more supportive e.g. cheerleaders.cheerleaders.

• But in 1970 Title IX was introduced, But in 1970 Title IX was introduced, whose purpose was ensuring that whose purpose was ensuring that equality of the sexes existed in sport.equality of the sexes existed in sport.

Title IXTitle IX

www.womenssportfoundation.www.womenssportfoundation.orgorg

Title IXTitle IX

• Historically, women in America have Historically, women in America have had the same experiences of had the same experiences of prejudice as British women.prejudice as British women.

• Sport has developed through manly Sport has developed through manly and muscular concepts, concentrating and muscular concepts, concentrating on competition, achievement, on competition, achievement, aggression and dominance.aggression and dominance.

• This has led to fewer women This has led to fewer women participating.participating.

• Most games are aimed at showing Most games are aimed at showing grace with very little physical grace with very little physical contact.contact.

• Or from the supporting side – which Or from the supporting side – which has a high status- through the has a high status- through the cheerleaders who are based on cheerleaders who are based on beauty and entertainment.beauty and entertainment.

• The state policy that was developed/passed The state policy that was developed/passed was Title IX, 1972was Title IX, 1972

• This was a policy that transformed women’s This was a policy that transformed women’s sport.sport.

• It meant that women were treated the It meant that women were treated the same way as men within the education same way as men within the education system.system.

• Since the passing of the act many court Since the passing of the act many court cases have been won.cases have been won.

• The act states that no prejudice should be The act states that no prejudice should be shown in terms of the programmes offered, shown in terms of the programmes offered, the standard of the teaching, medical the standard of the teaching, medical services and travel costs.services and travel costs.

• Participation rates did not change much Participation rates did not change much until the 1970s, when there was a great until the 1970s, when there was a great increase in participation within youth, increase in participation within youth, inter-collegiate, amateur and professional inter-collegiate, amateur and professional sport.sport.

• This was because of:This was because of:

• The women’s movementThe women’s movement

• Fitness movementFitness movement

• An increase in public awareness of An increase in public awareness of women’s sport and an increase in women’s sport and an increase in broadcastingbroadcasting

• State policies.State policies.

• There was need to see that every There was need to see that every effort was made to ensure that effort was made to ensure that education was provided ‘co-education was provided ‘co-educationally’, though it was right to educationally’, though it was right to differentiate while teaching contact differentiate while teaching contact sports.sports.

Examples of the use ofExamples of the use of Title IX Title IX

• In 1993 the chief coach of Howard University In 1993 the chief coach of Howard University women’s basketball won $1.1million because of women’s basketball won $1.1million because of sex discrimination as she was earning a lower sex discrimination as she was earning a lower wage than the men.wage than the men.

• NOW (National Organisation for Women) NOW (National Organisation for Women) California won a case against 20 state campuses California won a case against 20 state campuses because of inequality in funding athletics.because of inequality in funding athletics.

• Female athletes at Brown University won a case Female athletes at Brown University won a case against the college because of financial against the college because of financial inequality between the female and male inequality between the female and male departments.departments.

• One of the sports that has grown quickly in One of the sports that has grown quickly in America is Football.America is Football.

• This was mainly after the World Cup was This was mainly after the World Cup was held in the country and after the American held in the country and after the American women’s team won it in 1999.women’s team won it in 1999.

• America has accepted Football as a game America has accepted Football as a game for women and men.for women and men.

• This is very different to what is seen in the This is very different to what is seen in the UK.UK.

• In spite of the growth it is still well behind In spite of the growth it is still well behind in terms of expenditure and power.in terms of expenditure and power.

• Mia Hamm who is a female football player Mia Hamm who is a female football player for America is sponsored $1million a for America is sponsored $1million a season by Nike.season by Nike.

• The final was played in front of a The final was played in front of a crowd of 90,000, the biggest crowd crowd of 90,000, the biggest crowd ever to watch women’s sport.ever to watch women’s sport.

• By now Adidas and Nike sponsor the By now Adidas and Nike sponsor the teams, as well as companies like teams, as well as companies like Chevrolet and Budweiser.Chevrolet and Budweiser.

• There are also goods like Soccer There are also goods like Soccer Barbie. Barbie.

Why is football so popularWhy is football so popular

• America likes winnersAmerica likes winners

• America likes the game America likes the game

• It does not have to compete with It does not have to compete with men’s games, unlike Britain men’s games, unlike Britain

• Women do not play American FootballWomen do not play American Football

• Football is less physical than American Football is less physical than American FootballFootball

TaskTask

• What effect has Title 1X had on the What effect has Title 1X had on the American sport system?American sport system?