Women’s Struggle for Equality in Sports

Patriarchal American challenged the idea that women should be able to participate in competitive sports. Women playing sports before 1972, when Title IX was signed, faced fierced complaintsdue to issues of race, gender, and power. One of the most devastating challenges during the 1920's was that the Women's Division of the National Amateur Athletic Federation (WD-NAAF) argued that sports for women should not be so competitive. Women attending colleges, after such suggestions made by the WD-NAAF, had to get involved in play days instead of inter-scholastic or collegiate competition until the 1960's. During these times professional women athletes like Babe Didrikson and Jackie Mitchell endured rumors of their sexuality as women playing sports. Women playing baseball and African American track runners first had to look pretty, second be a scholar, and third devote time to their sport. When Title IX was abided in court, women athletic directors decided to organize the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). The AIAW grew in popularity, this infuriated male supremacy in sport ideologist, causing the NCAA to start organizing tournaments for women. Women were neglected from positions of power since the NCAA now controls both female and male sports. I believe that women do not share the same opportunities that men do in the world of sports, even after Title IX was passed. The current atmosphere around women in sports is being separate but equal, just like the Civil Right's Movement.
Nathan Johnson
Kin 338i