Despite an overall increase in the number of young females participating in competitive sports, there is still a great inequality in the athletic options available for young women in many of our public schools. Title IX, the 1972 law prohibiting gender discrimination in federally funded school programs has been a constant source of debate from elementary school to college level athletics, as the argument that females have less interest and therefore less need for involvement sports persists.
Yet, studies show that both sexes who participate in after-school sports programs have better grades, better conflict resolution skills, and better overall relations with their peers. There is ample evidence to support the idea that if young men and women are kept busy with structured activities outside of school, they are more likely to continue their education and stay out of trouble. In the last thirty years, girls’ sports programs have expanded in size and scope, with many schools reporting nearly equal numbers of female and male athletes.
However, as a recent New York Times article illustrated, these reforms have largely bypassed lower income, urban communities. Katie Thomas follows a day in the life of a middle school’s girls’ basketball team in the Bronx that is sustained through the sheer persistence of a coach and his players. Despite a lack of school funding, unforgiving schedules and parents who don’t always manage to provide the necessary support, these young ladies manage to keep their team alive, validating the fact that females have just as much need for sports programs as males.
With the current economic crisis affecting federal, state and city budgets across the board, funding for public school sports programs has been one of the first things to be cut. The meager resources that schools and parents retain are usually directed to boy’s teams, as there are far more scholarships and back channels for getting into college as a male athlete. Rebecca Lobo, Mia Hamm and the Williams Sisters may be celebrated role models but unless their daughters are well over six feet tall or preternaturally gifted with a soccer ball or tennis racket, it is unlikely that struggling parents will see the practical benefit of investing time and money in after school and weekend sports. The problem of lack of financing is compounded by the fact that traditional roles that may seem antiquated to modern scholars are still very much in place in immigrant and lower income households.
This means young ladies are expected to help with the childcare and domestic upkeep for their extended families, while young men are free to pursue athletics with their greater free time. As private and public efforts are made to shore up our public schools, this particular issue is often placed at the bottom of the list. Yes, math and reading are fundamental but athletics are also an essential component of the developmental process. As we fight for academic resources and better nutrition in our public schools, let’s not lose sight of this vital aspect of our educational system.
Tags: athletics, blog, college athletics, gender discrimination, girls, sports, Title IX, women
