Sport and Society: Gender Issues in Sport

Gender Issues in Sport

Learning Outcomes

• Effect of Title IX.
• Historical role of women in sport.
• The effect of increased female participation in sport on society.
• Current challenges.

Historical Role of Women

• Patriarchal society: male-dominated, women were assigned the role of homemakers.
• Late 1800s: Women began participating in sports due to a governmental push for National Health Programs.
• Women's colleges offered "ladylike" sports emphasizing graceful movement.
• Early 1900s: Women started participating in individual sports like golf, tennis, and gymnastics.
• Olympic Games: Women were not allowed to participate until 1920. The first games had 64 women compared to 2500 men.

Women and Sport Before Title IX: Pioneers

• 1920s-1940s:
  • 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".
• 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 and don’t deserve equal opportunity.
• Girls with natural talent are likely lesbians.

Effect of Title IX (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 was spent on men’s athletics.
• Before Title IX: 3.7 million high school/college boys in 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:
  • Men (1981 to 2008): 167,000 to 240,000
  • Women (1981 to 2008): 64,000 to 180,000
• % Women in Olympic Games:
  • 1900: 1.6%
  • 1960: 11.5%
  • 2008: 42%

Women as Sports Fans

• Growth of fan avidity & sports apparel sales with increased participation.
• 62% of female viewers watch sports regularly.
• Growth of Women’s Pro Sports.

Men as Women’s Sports Fans

• Male viewership of female sports is significant.

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