|
|
| GENDER PARITY IN SPORTS The pros and cons of Title IX May 19, 1997 |
|---|
Return to this
forum's top page.
Questions answered
in this forum:
Is there a way to create opportunities for women without taking them away from men? How can a grandfather support girls' sports? Have any colleges or universities ever been denied federal funding because of Title IX? What impact does the ruling have on high school sports? Aren't men just more interested in sports than women? VIEWER COMMENTS
NewsHour Backgrounders
March 28, 1997:
A debate about March Madness-- the National Collegiate Athletic Association's championships tournaments for men and women.
February 7, 1997:
Women's professional basketball is starting to bring in the money and the fans.
July 30, 1996:
Athletes of both sexes train for the Olympics.
Browse the NewsHour's index of Sports stories.
Outside Links
The Women's Sports Foundation's stand on Title IX.
Brown University
Viewer comments
Christy McGill of San Francisco, CA, comments:I graduated from Brown in 1986 after playing on Brown's Varsity Field Hockey and Lacrosse teams, and I am delighted that the U.S. Supreme Court has let stand its position on TITLE IX and embarrassed that my alma mater is now identified as the symbolic opposing voice of such an important measure. Get with the program Brown-- equal is equal, not "sort of equal" due to disparity's in "interest levels" is beneath the principles upon which the University enjoys resting its reputation.
The lessons I learned on the field at that level of competition have prepared me in numerous, invaluable ways for life outside the ivory tower.
The question to Mr. Nickel is simply this: Why is the University, which purports to be on the highest stratum of academic institutions in the country, picking this particular battle? I can't help but be rankled at the intonation that, yet again, anything that threatens men's sports is so important at a place that should take a lot more pride in upholding higher standards of civil rights.
David V. Green of Houston, TX, comments:What about the disparity of the number of toilets in men's bathrooms to women's bathrooms? Men have to deal with urinals. When will women ever make this sacrifice? If we want to make the playing field fair then lets all abide by the same rules not just what I want but what is fair for both sides. To much government in our daily lives. Give it a couple of years and I'll be able to sue the coffee makers for causing me to be addicted to caffeine. Get government out of our daily lives, we don't need you and more importantly we don't want you.
Denise Ferron of Montreal, Quebec, comments:I'm glad to see new attitudes where women and sports are concerned! Title IX is a boon to women nation wide and will hopefully influence Canadian politics.
If women sports are to grow, it is only natural that male sports should suffer at the outset. Just because women are now backed by their government, does not mean that extra money will suddenly materialize. Society will eventually adapt, a market for women sports will grow, and then perhaps this issue will be put to rest.
I understand and sympathize with men who have suddenly found themselves without the means to practice their favorite sport. I know, because I've been there.
Barbara W. Bonner of Reston, VA, comments:While I do not know all of the legal intricacies of this particular case, I am appalled that any ethnic or gender group who has enjoyed supremacy for so many centuries can cry foul and unfair when these inequities are being redressed. This same argument applies to affirmative action, in my opinion. You did not hear any cries of foul or unfairness from the privileged group when they were getting all of the advantages - and you wouldn't now if Title IX hadn't brought about these changes. I would like to hear some white males respond to this. This legislation does not try to put you down as inferior, as was previously the case when you were the advantaged group, it simply says you have to share the pie equally.
I also agree with those who express the opinion that professional sports owners who benefit so much financially from the training ground provided by the colleges and universities should begin to do their share to support these sports programs across the board with the money being shared by all sports, not just football and basketball. This would make it unnecessary to eliminate any sports.
Charles Stewart of Provo, UT, comments:In this era of political correctness, athletic fanaticism and legal opinions substituting for common sense, Title IX is fair.
When Brown University decided to cut funding for two mens teams and two women's teams the women sued. Were they unable to get private funding support for their sports? And if so shouldn't that send a message that nobody wants to pay to watch women's sports? Nobody wants to watch men's fencing either. So why continue to offer scholarship money for these or any program? (Please don't patronize me with the facile ploy of helping "minorities" and "disadvantaged youth." If you really want to help them give them an education. Don't just use them.) We are sports crazy in this country and waste valuable resources on games. The universities could do us all a big favor by discontinuing all athletic scholarships. An athletic scholarship, especially in the big money sports of football and basketball are a incredible form of discrimination: based only on God given physical prowess perpetuating the "survival of the fittest."
Continue to this forum's top page....
Support the kind of journalism done by the NewsHour...Become a member of your local PBS station. PBS Online Privacy Policy
Copyright ©1996- MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. All Rights Reserved.
