Private Club Gender Discrimination

The significance of the Augusta National membership controversy lies in its demonstration of the inevitable tension in American society caused by the fundamental human rights recognized in two amendments to the U.S. Constitution: the First Amendment right of free speech and free association, and the Fourteenth Amendment right to equal opportunity. The First Amendment protects each individualÆs right to associate with whom he or she chooses. On the other hand, the Fourteenth Amendment protects each individualÆs right not to be barred from opportunities that are available to others. But the U.S. Constitution only applies to governmental action and a private club in Augusta, Georgia retains a right to define with whom its members will be required to associate. The civil rights movement made the strides that it could against de jure discrimination in the United States. But the failure of many to adhere to BurkÆs protest against Augusta National may demonstrate many peopleÆs belief that people will always retain some right to choose with whom they will associate, even if such choices are offensive to others.

The controversy surrounding this yearÆs Masters golf tournament began on June 12, 2002, three months after Martha Burk, chairwoman of the National Council of WomenÆs Organizations, read a column in USA Today about Augusta National Golf clubÆs men-only membership policy. Burk wrote a private letter to club chairman Ho

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licy (Sherman 10). These positions were echoed by Augusta members such as Citigroup chairman Sanford Weill, who announced that although he agreed that the club ought to admit a woman, he would not resign his membership (Logan 1). Burk also targeted MastersÆ corporate sponsors, IBM, General Motors, Citigroup and Coca-Cola (Logan 1). But Augusta National allowed these sponsors to evade the issue by announcing that the club would stage the 2003 Masters without sponsors and TV commercials (Logan 1). Burk then pointed out to the PGA Tour that clubs such as Augusta National violated PGA policy against holding tournaments at clubs with discriminatory policies. But the Tour deferred to the decisions of Augusta National. And despite former CEO Thomas WymanÆs resignation from Augusta, CBS announced that ô[t]o not televise the Masters 'would be a disservice to fans of this major championshipÆö (Logan 1). The failure of BurkÆs protest to catch fire with the public suggests that many people, at some level, sympathize with the right of private individuals to discriminate in their private lives if they so choose. This public-private tension is reflected in the life of Augusta chairman, Hootie Johnson. JohnsonÆs public advocacy of raci
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Approximate Word count = 2657
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)

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