Gender Bias in College Sports

Diane Gill (1986) pointed out that gender and social diversity are relatively new topics addressed within sport and exercise psychology because it is only within the past three or four decades that an understanding of the interests of women in amateur and professional sports has become apparent. Gill (1986) says that traditionally, the term "athlete" automatically meant "male" and that the relatively small number of women who are professional athletes before the 1970s tended to be focused in individual sports like tennis and golf

At issue in this report is a discussion of how, despite years of progress toward gender equality in athletics, women continue to encounter sexist discriminatory practices that impact on their participation in sports. The primary thrust of the report is on amateur or collegiate or sporting events where competition for limited resources between male and female sports is intense (Davis, 2002).

Gill (1986) asserts that both sport and exercise remain highly gendered contexts. This is particularly true with respect to team sports which are seen as the general if not exclusive purview of male athletes. Gill (1986) suggests that many false attributions regarding the characteristics of female athletes have become part of the conventional wisdom. Such women are considered to be more androgynous than feminine, to be oriented toward aggressive activities, and in some instances to be representative of lesbian sexual stereotypes. Gill (1986) beli

Related Essays

Excelling in Sports & Women .... Garraty, JA "101 More Things Every College Graduate Should Know .... the result of that bias, a bias imposed by .... Gender and sexuality are not the same things, though .... (2780 11 )

AIDS & College Athletes .... based on aspects such as race, gender, and disability. .... HIV/AIDS being included in anti-bias law through .... However, college sports is not considered a "job", and .... (1707 7 )

Sports Law .... as does the over-represented gender." Despite these .... VI because of the racial bias inherent in .... goal of ensuring academic integrity in college sports is admirable .... (2546 10 )

The Hubble Telescope .... the increased participation by females in sports, there are .... that need to be addressed," (College 2002, 11 .... ways than males that demonstrates gender bias, both in .... (4483 18 )

Sports and Growth .... demographic questions related to ethnicity, gender, age, grade .... My goals include applying to college or higher .... issue per item, avoid bias, make alternatives clear .... (2068 8 )

instances, the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education, the agency which resolves complaints emanating alleged Title IX violations, can take up to four years to resolve a complaint. In determining whether or not a school is in violation of Title IX litigation is generally regarded as the last step. Division I colleges now dedicate approximately 38 percent of all athletic department operating budgets to women's sports - up from 23 percent in 1990. Some 17 NCAA institutions spent more than $10 million on women's sports in 2005, as compared to 82 institutions spending this amount on men's sports. These differentials clearly reveal a significant difference in the financing provided to women's and men's sports programming. Title IX has always been controversial. Suggs (2005) says the heart of the controversy involves its three-part test which is used to help colleges determine if they are offering enough opportunities to female athletes. Colleges pass the test if they have the same proportion of students and athletes who are female, if they have a history and continuing practice of expanding opportunities for women, or if they can prove that they are fully and effectively accommodating campus women's inter

Category: People - G