Title IX

[mrveggieman]

This past weekend was the 40th anniversary of Title IX. I am interested in getting the groups thoughts. Is Title IX good, bad or indefferent for sports, our society and gender roles?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_IX

[theonedru]

I think its a shame upon America the government actually had to introduce something like this. And how if they didn't we would still be in the dark ages when it came to matter that this represents.

[mrveggieman]

Yeah I was watching some doccumentries on espn about title IX over the weekend. I didn't realize how bad girls who wanted to play ball had it back in the day.

[AUTaxMan]

Not a huge fan. Schools shouldn't have to fund sports teams that lose money just so the girls can have a team. I know that's only a part of it, but it is a significant part.

[Star_Cards]

I get the concern about forcing schools to run programs that don't pay for themselves, but you can look at it another way as well. Schools offer all sorts of programs that don't make money that help make their schools more attractive to paying students. I'd bet that some students would rather spend their money going to a school that had less popular athletics in case they had interest in watching or participating in them. That goes for men's and women's alike even though we are speaking about Title IX.

I guess the bottom line is the more diverse of programs a university has, the more it sets itself apart from other competing universities. Not all programs are going to be as popular as football and basketball but it's still a benefit of the school to have the less popular men's and women's sports.

However, I do see the side of a business not being forced to run programs that don't pay for themselves as well.

[AUTaxMan]

I get the concern about forcing schools to run programs that don't pay for themselves, but you can look at it another way as well. Schools offer all sorts of programs that don't make money that help make their schools more attractive to paying students. I'd bet that some students would rather spend their money going to a school that had less popular athletics in case they had interest in watching or participating in them. That goes for men's and women's alike even though we are speaking about Title IX.

I guess the bottom line is the more diverse of programs a university has, the more it sets itself apart from other competing universities. Not all programs are going to be as popular as football and basketball but it's still a benefit of the school to have the less popular men's and women's sports.

However, I do see the side of a business not being forced to run programs that don't pay for themselves as well.

The school should have the option of choosing whether or not to have the programs. The government shouldn't make them do it. If the school determines that the cost is worth it, then they should have the right to choose.

[duane1969]

There are certainly programs that would not survive without government regulation, but at the same time the are programs that are kept alive by the need to meet Title IX requirements and not because of interest in the program.

I know our two local high schools have girl's golf teams that consist of 3 or 4 players out of a combined student body of 1600 students. However, since there is an active boy's team they have to keep the girl's team funded.

[mrveggieman]

Only a few college sports make money. They are usually mens basketball and college football. Occasionaly baseball or the basketball programs at uconn or tennesse will make money. Title IX is a neccessary evil. If not there wouldn't be any opportunities for girls to play sports because most schools would cut the programs because they are not making them any money.

[AUTaxMan]

Only a few college sports make money. They are usually mens basketball and college football. Occasionaly baseball or the basketball programs at uconn or tennesse will make money. Title IX is a neccessary evil. If not there wouldn't be any opportunities for girls to play sports because most schools would cut the programs because they are not making them any money.

So playing college and high school sports is the only way girls have the opportunity to play sports?

[sobersoul]

Women's sports (and Men's sports) helps retention and attendance at every D-3, D-3, NAIA school in the country. Every one of those schools is making money off of the students that participate in those sports from tuition alone. So Mr. AutoTaxMan you are wrong to think that these schools aren't making money off of the Women's teams, because they are... a lot of it.