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College Students' Attitudes Toward Gender Equity in Intercollegiate Sports
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by Angela R. Goon, Shanna Teel, Sharon Fuller, and Mary J. Allen* - California State University, Bakersfield
Categories: Gender | Social | Sport Psychology
Title IX of the Education Amendments was created in 1972 to eliminate sex discrimination in intercollegiate athletics. Strategies for achieving gender equity are becoming increasingly important as federally mandated compliance dates approach. We surveyed 106 college students enrolled at California State University, Bakersfield—94 students from the general student body (67 women and 27 men) and 12 students who were track team athletes (4 women, 7 men, and 1 undeclared)—concerning their opinions on gender equity. The expected sex difference was not significant. Overall, most students support equity programs to increase opportunities for female athletes, including establishing sex quotas and reducing the size of men’s teams, but they do not believe a proportional number of scholarships should be granted to female athletes. Likewise, they do not believe equity compliance should include canceling existing men’s programs.