1. The Balls are in OUR Court!
Women have balls too! The problem is, we are not given the same opportunities as men
when it comes to sports. Too often girls and women are discouraged from participating in sports
by being told that they are “men’s games” and that we will never be as good as them. Well, the
time has come for these lies to stop and for men to put their egos aside. We will no longer stand
for these misogynistic views and demand that we are seen for our worth.
Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. This is a federal law that states, “"no
person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied
the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity
receiving Federal financial assistance."
There are three components of Title IX that each federally funded institution must adhere
to (1) effective accommodation of student interests and abilities (participation), (2) athletic
financial assistance (scholarships), and (3) other program components like benefits and treatment
of athletes.
The problem with this three-pronged test is that it limits sport opportunities for women.
When it comes to participation, the whole men’s athletic department is compared to the women’s
athletic department instead of individual men’s and women’s teams in the same sport being
compared. This is not fair because there are some sports that are all male and when the whole
men’s program is compared to the women’s program, it gives the appearance that women are
less interested in sports, which is not the case.
When it comes to funding, institutions are only required to give the same amount of
funding for scholarships to women athletes as they do to men. While this is a great thing, the

2. issue here is that funding for men’s and women’s programing does not have to be equal. This
could result in unequal benefits and treatment for women’s teams which goes against Title IX.
The last component of Title IX is treatment. Title IX does not require that men’s and
women’s teams have the exact services and supplies. Instead, the women’s and men’s programs
are looked at in its entirety. Overall treatment is measured on the basis of eleven criteria, ranging
from locker rooms, practice and competitive facilities to support services.
Is it 2016 or are we back in the Jim Crow era? When has separate ever been equal? Yes, I
understand that men and women are different biologically but are we so different to the point
where it is legally ok to not receive the same opportunities as men? HELL NO! This needs to
change and I will start by eliminating some popular myths surrounding Title IX (these myths and
facts can be found on the Women and Sports Foundation Title IX Myths and Facts page).
Myth 1: Girls are not as interested as boys in playing sports
Fact: The dramatic increase in girls' and women's participation in sport since Title IX was
passed in 1972 (by 560% at the college level and 990% in high schools) demonstrates
that it was lack of opportunity – not lack of interest – that kept females out of high school
and college athletics for so many years.
Myth 2: It is not fair that Title IX requires equal spending on men's and women's programs
because the men's programs bring in all of the school's money.
Fact: Title IX does not require equal spending on men's and women's programs, and less
than 12% of college athletic programs actually make a profit.
Myth 3: Title IX has resulted in the loss of athletic opportunities for men's sports.

3. Fact: Overall, men's athletic opportunities since Title IX's passage have increased. Title
IX has been wrongly blamed by its critics for cuts to some men's sports teams at some
educational institutions.
Men, toughen up because you now have some real competition. We are no longer scared
to showcase our abilities and talents and we will no longer apologize for being women. The balls
are in our court now. Are you ready to play?
SheVan Alston UNC Charlotte Student and Staff Member of 49er Athletics