Gender Issues in Sport

Gender Issues in Sport

Learning Outcomes

• The Effect of Title IX
• Historical Role of Women in Sport
• The effect or increased female participation in sport on society
• Current Challenges

Historical Role of Women

• Patriarchal Society
  • Male Dominated
  • Women at Home was the role assigned

Women and Sport Before Title IX

• In U.S., Women began participation late 1800’s in governmental push for National Health Programs
• Women’s colleges provided what was deemed ladylike sports that would not overstress the body.
  • Emphasized “graceful ladylike movement”
• By turn of the century Women begin to participate in individual sports such as golf, tennis, and gymnastics.
• Olympic Games did not allow women until the 1920 (began 1896)
  • 1st games had 64 Women compared to 2500 male participants.

Pioneers in Women’s Sports (1920’s – 1940’s)

• Glenna Collett Vare
  • Golf
  • 6 time U.S. Open Winner
• Helen Wills Moody
  • Tennis
  • 8 time Wimbledon winner
• Babe Didrikson Zaharias
  • Golf, Track
  • Olympic Medalist
• A League of their own

Pioneers in Women’s Sports (Post 1950)

• Billie Jean King
• Martina Navratilova
• Althea Gibson
• Pat Summitt
• Chrissy Everett
• Amanda Beard
• Danica Patrick

Early perceptions on Women’s Participation in Sport

• Females aren’t interested
• Physical activity could harm the body
• Women cannot compete with men: don’t deserve equal opportunity to play
• Girls with natural talent are likely lesbians

Effect of Title IX – Introduced 1972

• “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
• Prior to title IX, 99 cents of every dollar spent on men’s athletics.
• 3.7 million high school/college boys in school sports compared to 295,000 girls
• (NCAA)Now must be equal based on participation by overall population at said school

Women’s participation since Title IX

• College Sports
  • 1981
    • Men 167,000
    • Women 64,00
  • 2008
    • Men 240,000
    • Women 180,000

Women’s Sports Data % Women in Olympic Games

• 1900: 1.6
• 1960: 11.5
• 1984: 23
• 1996: 34
• 2000: 38
• 2004: 41
• 2008: 42

Women as sports fans – demographic – growth of fan avidity

• With growth in participation, spectatorship by females of male and female sports soars.
• 62% say they watch sports regularly
• Female viewers
  • 47% MLS
  • 46% MLB, NBA
  • 45% NFL
  • 40% MLB, NASCAR
• What does this mean in terms of economic impact?

Women as sports fans – demographic – growth of sales sports apparel

• With growth in participation, sporting goods by females also soars.
• 81% of all apparel is female
• 91% for children
• 50% for men
• What does this mean in terms of economic impact?

Women as sports fans – demographic – growth of Women’s Pro Sports

• With growth in participation, Women’s sports visibility grows:
• 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” Billie Jean King - Video
• Women’s Basketball – College, Pro WNBA
• Women’s Tennis
• Women’s Golf

Men as Women’s sports fans – demographic – growth of fan avidity

• Male viewership of female sports
  • 58% LPGA
  • 56% Women’s College Basketball
  • 47% WNBA
  • 66% Women’s Soccer
  • 42% Women’s Tennis

Major Social Issues in Women’s Sports today

• Women’s Health
• Lesbian Athletes
• Sportswear
• Objectification of female athletes as sex objects
• Barriers
• Title IX Challenges
• Physical Activity
• Women as Leaders in sport
  • Women’s Sports Foundation
  • WISE
• Equal Pay for Equal Play
• Media Coverage