Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act was signed into law in 1972, requiring all educational institutions that receive federal aid to provide equitable opportunities to participate in sports. 

Since then, where has this act prospered and where has it failed?

A balancing Act

Title IX says that all educational institutions receiving federal assistance must provide equal opportunities for women to participate in sport. This doesn't require mirrored programs (men's lacrosse with women's lacrosse, soccer, cross country, etc.), just that the number of participation slots offered (maximum number of athletes) is proportional to the gender ration at the institution. 

The same goes for financial aid, where the amount of financial aid provided by athletics departments must be in the same proportion as the athletes gender ratio.

Since 1972, opportunities have increased for female athletes, but not necessarily in meaningful ways. A study by the NCAA which looked at budget differences from 1992 to 1997 saw an average increase of male programs budgets of $1.37 million, compared to the $400,000 budgeted to women.

On the Course

One place Title IX does not have any ruling over is the NCAA organization itself, as it does not receive or grant financial aid. This means that the NCAA, who sets the media rights and race distances at the collegiate level, isn't required to provide equal opportunities to student athletes. There are some that view the failure of the NCAA to adopt the new international cross country standards as going against Title IX regulations.