of the Education Amendments of 1972, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex for any ôeducation program or activity receiving Federal financial assistanceö (Title, 1972, 1). Title IX has been responsible for numerous lawsuits against colleges for allocating significant revenues to male sports programs at the expense of female sports programs and other issues. Ironically, Title IX has led to a number of reverse discrimination suits. Males argue male sports programs have more interest and members and are cutting teams, especially low profit sports like wrestling, due to Title IX regulations. Recently, a U.S. District Court judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by college wrestlers who maintained that ôTitle IX required quotas for female athletes have resulted in discrimination against men,ö in National Wrestling Coaches Association v. United Sates Department of Education (Casta, 2003, 1).
In conclusion, discrimination legislation is meant to level the playing field among a variety of aspects related to employment. New legislation like age discrimination laws and Title IX demonstrate that U.S. legislators and courts take discrimination seriously. Sports managers, directors, coaches and others need to familiarize themselves with all forms of discrimination legislation in order to maintain fair standards and minimize the risk of lawsuits pertaining to discrimination.
Employment discrimination: An overview. Cornell University School of Law. Viewed on Jan 31, 2005: http://www.law.cornell.edu/ topics/employment_discrimination.html, 1-4.
Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972, (Title 20 U.S.C. Sections 1681-1688). U.S. Department of Labor. Viewed on Jan 31, 2005: http://www.dol.gov/oasam/regs/ statutes/titleix.htm, 1-4.
Casta, N. (2003, Jun 13). Title IX victory! Judge dismisses wrestlersÆ lawsuit. National Organization for Women (NOW). Viewed on Jan 31, 2005: http://www.now.org/issues/title_ix/ 061303lawsuit.html, 1.