Participation in athletics has great potential to benefit university students. In addition to the obvious benefits of frequent vigorous exercise, sports participation can improve the college experience in a variety of subtler ways. Teammates and fellow athletes can form a strong social network, encouraging one another to maintain focus and reinforcing constructive priorities. Coaches often act as mentors, advocates, and positive role-models. Compared to the general body of female students, female student athletes are more likely to graduate, more likely to have high self-esteem and good body image, and less likely to smoke, use illicit drugs, or experience an unwanted pregnancy.
Since 1972, when Congress passed Title IX, opportunities for female students to participate in college athletics have increased dramatically. Before the law was passed, there were fewer than 30,000 female varsity athletes at the university level; the number is now more than five times that.
Despite this admirable improvement, women still do not have equal opportunities to benefit from college sports participation. While women made up about 56% of all undergraduate students during the 2004-2005 school year, the female share of athletes was less than 41%. On average, women’s sports receive less funding, female athletes receive fewer scholarships, and athletic departments spend only a third of their recruitment money on women.
One of Title IX’s most troubling side-effects is the way in which women are slipping from the collegiate coaching ranks. As coaching positions for women’s teams become more prestigious and lucrative, female coaches increasingly must compete with their male counterparts, and may experience sex-based discrimination. In 2006, only 42% of coaches for women’s teams were female, the lowest percentage on record, as compared to more than 90% in 1972. There has been no corresponding increase in female coaches for men’s teams.
The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund and the AAUW Educational Foundation advocate for the vigorous enforcement of all civil rights laws pertaining to education. We strongly support Title IX, and oppose any efforts that would weaken its effectiveness. The AAUW believes that expansion of athletic opportunities for girls and women must continue at both the high school and college levels. We offer the following information and resources for students, coaches, administrators, and others concerned about equitable opportunities in college athletics.
- Athletic Statistics
Learn statistics about women's participation in athletics, the benefits of sports in women's lives, and how many teams have women coaches, trainers and athletics directors.
- Title IX: A Brief History
Read a brief history of Title IX of the Eudcation Amendment of 1972 that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
- Title IX: Case Law
Read about several recent discrimination lawsuits against universities under Title IX.
- Sex Discrimination in College Coaching
Learn about how and why the percentage of women's sports teams with female head coaches is declining.
- Organizations and Government Agencies
Additional sources for individuals who believe they have been discriminated against under Title IX.
Still need help?
If you have any questions, would like to learn more, or would like to make a contribution to LAF, send an e-mail to laf@aauw.org or call 202/785-7750.
