Women in Sports
other athletic benefits and opportunities.
Encourage local, state, and national policy makers to take steps towards ending gender bias by promoting and reinforcing gender equity policies and practices in the Department of Education, federal education programs, and in educational funding and research. Write to the Office of Civil Rights, your members of Congress, your Governor, and members of your state legislature to let them know you want gender equity enforced.
STRATEGY 7: Speak out Against Homophobia
The silence and fear that goes with a climate of homophobia is harmful to all women. Speak out against anti-gay jokes or comments. Push your athletics department to adopt policies that prohibit discrimination against lesbians and gays. And take action when you think someone was fired for being a suspected lesbian (of course, check with that person first and work with her in planning what to do).
STRATEGY 8: Publicize Discrimination at your School or University
Is your school, university, or college in violation of Title IX, the federal law that prohibits gender discrimination in education, including athletics? To find out, answer the following three questions:
• Are men's and women's athletic programs funded in proportion to the percentage of men and women students?
• Are opportunities for participation for women and men athletes proportional to enrollment?
• Is there an unmet need for a varsity women's sport (such as a club sport whose members want to upgrade to a varsity sport)?
If you can prove that participation is not proportional, and that there is an unmet need for more women's sports, and/or if you can prove that the funding is not proportional, your school is in violation of Title IX. Bring this up with the athletics administrators (who no doubt are already aware of it), and ask them what measures they intend to take to correct the inequity. Be sure to let them know about the numerous successful lawsuits women athletes and coaches have brought against schools in violation of Title IX.
Starting in 1996, colleges and universities will be required to disclose funding and participation statistics to anyone who asks, thanks to the Moseley-Braun/Kennedy Amendment to the 1994 Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Beyond talking to the athletics administrators, you can also meet with college presidents and faculty concerning gender equity issues and the present status of your institution, and place articles or write letters to the editor in school papers discussing facts about Title IX, your school in particular, and your feelings about the discrimination.
You might also want to read up on sex discrimination or contact women's organizations for information on not only how to recognize discrimination but also on how to counter it effectively.
STRATEGY 9: Develop a Media Strategy
The media is vital to creating change. Never hesitate to contact the media and make them aware of actions, workshops, or other activities. Encourage reporters to cover women's athletics in your area. Local radio and TV talk shows should also be encouraged [next page]