Inequality In Sport Essay

691 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Gender inequality in professional sports

Title IX was put in place to help women. This act was supposed to stop situations such as unfair media attention, but has it helped? According to the article Media Coverage of Women's Sport: A New Look at an Old Problem, “There is evidence that these injustices are not diminishing over time, as Duncan and Messner (2000), in their longitudinal analysis, found the amount and type of coverage of women's sport in broadcast media has not changed since 1989” (Cunningham 44). The problem of inequality within media has been a problem for years and there haven’t been improvements. It has been said over the years that the amount of media coverage may vary depending on what female sport it is. Cunningham says, “Several authors have found that women participating in "sex appropriate" sports (e.g., gymnastics, figure skating) receive better coverage, in terms of length and number features, than do female athletes in "sex-inappropriate" sports (e.g., body building, wrestling)” (Cunningham 44). This statement isn’t fair, because there shouldn’t be two different categories for women’s sports. All sports are appropriate or they wouldn’t be allowed. Those so called “sex-appropriate” sports still aren’t gaining the amount of coverage that male sports are gaining. Therefore the excuse of inequality within female sports, because of the sport being “sex-inappropriate” isn’t a good argument. There are arguments as to why women don’t get as much coverage. According to the article Visual and Verbal Gender Cues in the Televised Coverage Of the 2010 Winter Olympics, “The production techniques used for men’s sports far outweighs those for women’s sports in several key areas, including editing, camera use and type of shot. Specifically, men’s sports were e...

... middle of paper ...

...was acceptable. According to TITLE IX: Creating Unequal Quality Through Application of the Proportionality Standard in Collegiate Athletics, ” Congress had the power to remedy past discrimination, thus men cannot claim a Title IX violation for lack of full and effective accommodation if the proportionality requirement is still in their favor. Therefore, the Kelley court ruled that the men's team did not have a valid cause of action under Title IX or the Equal Protection Clause” (Ambrosius 577).This example shows that Title IX is willing to sacrifice men’s sports for women’s sports. Title IX can’t continue to argue that they want equality and not show that they truly want equality. They’ve worked on gaining equality for women, but they can’t take away the men’s equality in the process of that. It can’t be lopsided, both men’s and women’s sports have to be balanced.

Show More
Related

  • Men’s ASUFC Takes on Title IX

    1145 Words  | 3 Pages

    Before Title IX had become a rule, gender used to matter more than your performance in the sport. This means that even if you were an all-star athlete but you were a female then you would most likely be sitting in the bleachers watching. Why would ASU have more women’s athletics competing in Division 1 than men’s if Title IX is supposed to make equality for all? This is because the men’s football team and basketball team have so many participant’s that they have to take away other men’s athletics or add more women’s athletics to have the same number of total athletic participant’s. Both of these options work, but ASU decides to not have a men’s Division 1 soccer team because they don’t want to spend the extra money in adding another women’s sport as well. Wulf included a quote from Bunny Sandler when she says Title IX was "the most important step for gender equality since the 19th Amendment." In1972 Title IX became a law with President Richard Nixon signing (Bryjak). George J. Bryjak explains how the NCAA fought for the Tower Amendment which would have excluded men’s football and basketball from the Title IX coverage. Bryjak said they would do this because basketball and football both have a lot of participants; especially football because there is no women’s football team and the men’s team has over 125 players on average which causes Title IX to eliminate other men’s sports. This happens because none of the women’s sports incorporate that many participants in one par...

    Read More

  • The Results of Title IX on Women's Sports

    489 Words  | 1 Pages

    Over two decades have passed since the enactment of Title IX, a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded education, including athletics. As a result of Title IX, women and girls have benefited from more athletic participation opportunities and more equitable facilities. Because of Title IX, more women have received athletic scholarships and thus opportunities for higher education that some may not have been able to afford otherwise. In addition, because of Title IX the salaries of coaches for women's teams have increased. Despite the obstacles women face in athletics, many women have led and are leading the way to gender equity.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Title IX

    952 Words  | 2 Pages

    Title IX is a federal law that states “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.” Summing that up, Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in education. Title IX has banned sex discrimination in schools since 1972. Title IX is best known for parceling obstacles in sports for women and girls, it also ameliorates for girls to pursue math and science, requires fair treatment for pregnant and parenting students, and protects students from bullying and sexual harassment, among other things. Title IX applies to all educational institutions. Both public and private,

    Read More

  • Title IX And Its Effects On Men's Sports

    1193 Words  | 3 Pages

    Title IX is a law that was made by the NCAA in 1972, that states that there can be no discrimination or exclusion of a gender through athletics or education. (Mankiller). Which means that men's sports cannot be favored over women's sports. Many people are very cognizant of this law. For example, if a school has $100,000, the school must spend the money equally between the athletics of each gender, even if there are more men's sports teams. They must get the same treatment. That may sound great, but Title IX has impacted men's athletics significantly. Although Title IX has been a valuable way to establish gender equality, the NCAA loses money, puts men out of scholarships, abolishes smaller men’s sports teams, and it should be

    Read More

  • Title IX and its Importance

    903 Words  | 2 Pages

    IX was established many people thought that women were more concerned and involved in getting married, and having children rather than continuing their education. Until the early 70's, many colleges and universities were reluctant to admit women into their student body. Fortunately, the unfairness in admissions of higher education for females that was prominent prior to the early 70’s is less common. Women now receive undergraduate and graduate degrees at a significantly higher rate than before the adoption of the Title IX's statutes. It's more common today for women to take professions that were more commonly dominated by males. Title IX is an important legislation because it helps increase women's access to higher education, protect against sexual harassment, and help increase the number of female athletics

    Read More

  • Benefits of the WNBA

    1341 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although Title IX states than, "no person in the United States, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to any discrimination..." it does not guarantee that people will carry this out. After the issuing of Title IX, many women in sports wished to step forward and be recognized. Part of the recognition they wanted was to be included in National Sports Associations like the men's National Basketball Association. Eventually their cries were heard, and sports associations like the NBA agreed to merge and include women. Becoming included was an eye opening experience to many of these women and they have faced (and still do) doubts and discrimination from the public, but along the way they have also reaped benefits they would not have if the merger had never taken place.

    Read More

  • Title IX Pros And Cons

    1906 Words  | 4 Pages

    Title IX and the Education Amendments of 1972 were created to defend equal opportunities for women of all ages. Since its inception 44 years ago, women have seen impressive strides as well as disappointing failures. Social prejudice continues to exist limiting female participation opportunities, benefits for female athletes, coaching opportunities, and increased exposure to sexual assault and abuse. Few institutions treat female athletes equally due to the lack of enforcement by collegiate athletic departments. The enforcement of Title IX has not been a priority among far too many educational institutions leaving women open to discrimination and mistreatment.

    Read More

  • College Sports - Women in Sports and Title IX

    1941 Words  | 4 Pages

    The debate over Title IX is a complex one, with many sides relentlessly attacking each other’s approaches regarding the law. The Title IX advocates, largely comprised of women’s organizations such as the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), take the approach that the law is the major reason women have achieved somewhat equal opportunities in athletics. The NWLC contends that abolishing Title IX would undo years of progress so far achieved. In sharp contrast with the Title IX advocates are the Title IX opponents, who are largely comprised of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (...

    Read More

  • Female Athletes Scrutinized for their Appearance

    1574 Words  | 4 Pages

    Title IX was passed in 1972 and according to the Women’s Sports Foundation, as of 2011, women make up 38-42 percent of all sport and physical activity participants. Yet, research shows that women receive only 6-8 percent of the total sports coverage. A double standard is defined as a set of principles that allows greater freedom to one person or group than to another. (dictionary.com) In athletics, women are judged more on their appearances and their non-sport related activities, than their male counterparts who are judged primarily on their skills and performances. Female athletes are scrutinized based on their appearances more than their skills and athletic performances in the media.

    Read More

  • Gender Inequality In Sport Essay

    865 Words  | 2 Pages

    Unintentionally, a lot of us have been boxed into institutions that promote gender inequality. Even though this was more prominent decades ago, we still see how prevalent it is in today’s world. According to the authors of the book, Gender: Ideas, Interactions, Institutions, Lisa Wade and Myra Marx Ferree define gendered institutions as “the one in which gender is used as an organizing principle” (Wade and Ferree, 167). A great example of such a gendered institution is the sports industry. Specifically in this industry, we see how men and women are separated and often differently valued into social spaces or activities and in return often unequal consequences. This paper will discuss the stigma of sports, how gender is used to separate athletes, and also what we can learn from sports at Iowa State.

    Read More

  • No More: Title IX and Sexual Assault on College Campuses

    968 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Title IX is a law passed in 1972 that requires gender equity for boys and girls in every educational program that receives federal funding” (“History”, Part. 2). Title IX covers 10 different aspects of gender equality (“History” Par. 3 ). The different aspects are: Access to Higher Education, Career Education, Education for Pregnant and Parenting Students, Employment, Learning Environment, Math and Science, Standardized Testing and Technology, Sexual Harassment. One of the hardest areas to regulate is sexual harassment and assault because once it occurs there isn’t a lot you can do for the victim.

    Read More

  • Gender Equity in College Sports

    1143 Words  | 3 Pages

    The enactment of this Title has significantly changed the playing field for athletic departments through out the nation by altering their funding systems to comply with its rules. As a result, women have benefited greatly. There have been additions of female sports as well as an increase of the number of scholarships awarded to female athletes, and also a lot more funding to provide more “equitable” facilities for them. According to the NCAA Gender Equity Studies , “from 1992 to 1997 NCAA institutions have increased the number of female athletes by 5,800. But tragically during that time these colleges also eliminated 20,900 male athletes.” (Kocher p.1) This dramatic landslide has occurred because athletic departments are under pressure to rapidly increase the proportion of female athletes by whatever means necessary. As the path toward complete “equality” gradually brightens for women in college athletics, a dark path is now becoming evident. Male athletes, in a sense, are now being discriminated against because of Title IX.

    Read More

  • Title IX

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    Great inequalities in the educational system between the sexes have occurred for many years and still occur today. Efforts have been made to rectify this disparity, but the one that has made the most difference is Title IX. Passed in 1972, Title IX attempted to correct the gender discrimination in educational systems receiving public funding. The greatest correction it made was in the area of athletics, but social justice of Title IX applies to many other areas as well. Title IX has an effect on women who are not athletes in many ways, including quality of education, receptivity to education, empowerment and creation of ideals.

    Read More

  • Inequality In Education Essay

    3194 Words  | 7 Pages

    The inequality in Australian education can be attributed to a history of low expectations and discrimination placed on Indigenous people by the government and society. Aboriginal children were denied the right to education until the 1970s due to the discrimitory views of the government and society. The Indigenous population were the sub-standard race of humanity with little to no chance of succeeding in life and these attitudes affected the educational choices offered to them (Ray & Poonwassie, 1992). As the superior race, the Anglo-Celtic Australians, considered themselves both intellectually and socio-culturally more advanced than their inferior Aboriginal neighbours (Foley, 2013). As a consequence of these racially and culturally motivated preconceptions, children of Aboriginal descent were considered unskilled outside of their own and were deemed incapable of excelling in ‘civilised’ white society (Foley, 2013). As a result, the Australian Government, in an effort to civilise and nurture politeness within the Aboriginal people, constructed “structured” (p 139) education training institutions in 1814. However, these problems only provided sufficient schooling for menial work: Aboriginal male children were prepared for agricultural employment, while girls were trained for domesticated services (Foley, 2013). Thus, as a direct consequence of low expectation for life success, Aboriginal children were offered minimal schooling ‘consistent with the perception about the limitations inherent in their race and their expected station in life at the lowest rung of white society’ (Beresford & Partington, 2003, p43). According to Foley (2013) this combination of low expectations and poor academic grounding meant that Indigenous children we...

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Sports Essay

    1374 Words  | 3 Pages

    Whether its baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, or tennis, sports is seen all over the world as a representation of one’s pride for their city, country, and even continent. Sports is something that is valued world-wide which has the ability to bring communities together and create different meanings, beliefs and practices between individuals. Although many people may perceive sports to have a significant meaning within our lives, it can also have the ability to separate people through gender inequalities which can also be represented negatively throughout the media. This essay will attempt to prove how gender is constructed in the sports culture while focusing on female athletes and their acceptance in today’s society.

    Read More

More about Inequality In Sport Essay

Open Document