Women in collegiate sports: The struggle for equity since the 1972 Title IX Educational Amendment

The purpose of this study was to examine the struggle to achieve equal opportunity for women in collegiate sports since the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendment in 1972. It began with a brief look at women's participation in sports from the Victorian age to the present.; Women in collegiate sports started to show a marked improvement in the 1970's. It was during this time that the United States Congress passed a number of laws that provided aid to higher education that were to expire in 1971. It was in this era that Edith Green, a little known Congresswoman from Oregon, spearheaded the attack for women's rights in Congress. Along with her supporters in the Senate, Green led the charge in offering amendments prohibiting sex discrimination.; Even though Tide IX was signed into law in 1972, it really could not take effect until HEW drew up a set of regulations for its implementation. In yet another attempt to explain to institutions the urgency of complying with Title IX, HEW decided that it was necessary to create further guidance. HEW implemented what became known as the "Policy Interpretation of 1979" which really offered a method of guidance to educational institutions to help them to comply.; With these regulations and the policy interpretations enacted, the rights of women in sports received a further setback with the decision in Grove City v. Bell (1984). This Supreme Court decision effectively removed intercollegiate athletic programs from Title IX jurisdiction. This decision sent Title IX in the complete opposite direction of where it really intended to go. It would be an additional four more years, with the passage of the Civil Rights Restoration Act, until Title IX was restored to its previous potential.; The turn in the road came when legal action was taken on behalf of female athletes who believed that they were being discriminated at their institutions.; Finally, women in collegiate sports has made great strides in participation as compared to men's programs. Similar improvements were made in the area of scholarships for men and women athletes, and in the area of recruiting expenses. However, the disbursement of overall operating monies granted to women continues to lag behind the men.