Title IX

Makayla Marucci

She/Her

Staff Writer

3/14/23

As a female NCAA athlete here at Plymouth State University, I have an understanding of the lack of equality in men’s and women’s sports.  The institution itself makes great efforts at making sure each sport is getting the same amount of attention as the next, but there are some aspects of equality that can’t be controlled because it is just established by people’s internal biases.  Administration can’t force students to attend games; they make their own decisions to attend male sports over any female sport regardless of the success or popularity of the team.  I am on the women’s volleyball team and although this isn’t directly a promotion for our team and our games, it is an emphasis on the importance of attending female sports along with male sports.   

Title IX was created over 50 years ago to establish the rules of equality between men and women in sports.  It ensures that women are able to participate in athletics to the same caliber as men and they won’t be discriminated against because of their gender.  Another part of Title IX is, it protects sexual harassment and sexual violence victims and aids them in their search for justice.  The existence of Title IX, unfortunately, isn’t going to change the way that people view female athletes, but it is going to normalize seeing women actively participating.  

To this day, there are still developments being made to equalize the gender ratio when it comes to men and women in sports, whether that is active participation or a job in the sports industry.  There are far more female referees and female coaches in male-dominated sports, and female sports broadcasters; however they do not participate without heavy criticism because of their gender, but any step towards the end goal of equality is a positive one.  Women’s history month is in place to celebrate the advancements that this country has made in the fight for women’s equality, but it is also a reminder that the fight isn’t over.