Athletics Under Title IX

Before Title IX

Things were different. The primary physical activities for girls were cheerleading and square-dancing. Only 1 in 27 girls played high school sports. There were virtually no college scholarships for female athletes. And female college athletes received only two percent of overall athletic budgets.

Since Title IX

Things were different. The primary physical activities for girls were cheerleading and square-dancing. Only 1 in 27 girls played high school sports. There were virtually no college scholarships for female athletes. And female college athletes received only two percent of overall athletic budgets.

Why Title IX Is Still Critical

The general perception is that girls now have equal opportunities in all areas of athletics. But that's just not true.

• Schools are providing 1.3 million fewer chances for girls to play sports in high school as compared to boys. While more than half of the students at NCAA schools are women, they receive only 44% of the athletic participation opportunities.
• Female athletes at the typical Division I-FBS (formerly Division I-A) school receive roughly: 28% of the total money spent on athletics, 31% of the recruiting dollars, and 42% of the athletic scholarship dollars.
• In 2008, only 43% of coaches of women's teams were women. In 1972, the number was over 90 percent.

Take Action

Support The High School Athletics Transparency Acts
Learn More:

• The following toolkit will help you determine if your school is providing equal opportunities for girls and women: Toolkit: Check It Out: Is the Playing Field Level for Women and Girls at Your School? (NWLC)
• The Battle for Gender Equity in Athletics in Elementary and Secondary Schools (NWLC)
• The Battle for Gender Equity in Athletics in Higher Education (NWLC)
• Debunking the Myths About Title IX and Athletics (NWLC)