Behind the Blue Disk

Title IX

What is Title IX? Title IX of the Education Amendments Acts of 1972 is a federal law that states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Who does Title IX affect? The law applies to all public and private schools that receive federal funds. Almost all private colleges and universities must abide by Title IX regulations because they receive funding through federal financial aid programs used by their students.

How do schools comply with Title IX? The law affects every one of a school’s educational programs, including sports. Schools comply in sports by providing equal benefits, participation opportunities and athletics-based financial aid.

What are the benefits of Title IX? Title IX benefits everyone. Historically, females have faced more gender barriers to education, but Title IX ensures that the under-represented gender – male or female – has equal access and opportunity. Since Title IX was enacted, the number of men participating in college sports has increased along with the number of women.

All things being equal

The goal of Title IX is equal participation opportunities for both genders. With that in mind, the law requires male and female student-athletes at a particular school to receive financial aid proportional to the school’s participation opportunities. Although Title IX does not require equal dollars to be spent on men’s and women’s sports, it does require equal treatment for:

• Equipment and supplies
• Scheduling of games and practice times
• Travel and daily allowance/per diem
• Access to tutoring
• Coaching
• Locker rooms and practice and competitive facilities
• Medical and training facilities and services
• Housing and dining facilities and services
• Publicity and promotions
• Support services
• Recruitment of student-athletes

Title IX History

• In 1902, the first women’s college basketball game was played at Smith College behind locked doors. No male spectators were allowed.
• In 1981, the NCAA started administering women’s sports. In the first NCAA women’s basketball championship in 1982, Louisiana Tech University defeated Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.
• In 1981-82, there were 74,239 female student-athletes on 4,776 teams, and 169,800 male student-athletes on 6,843 teams.
• Today, there are 191,131 female student-athletes on 9,746 teams, and 252,946 male student-athletes on 8,568 teams.