Women/Girls in Sports

Did you know that before 1970, only about one in 27 girls participated in high school sports? Now that number is closer to two out of every five girls. This is an amazing statistic that we want to keep growing. A big reason for this increase is a law called Title IX. Title IX is a law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs, including athletics. That law transformed opportunities for women competing in sports at all levels.

National Women and Girls in Sports Day isn’t just for professional athletes. It’s about all of the women and girls who go out there and do what women before them didn’t even have the opportunity to do. It’s about women in our communities who are breaking barriers, such as the women who participate in sports at our college. At our college, and at colleges around the country, sports are more than just a game. They are a chance for women to grow individually. Athletics require balancing schedules, travel, and strength training alongside a full workload of classes while working toward career goals. That balance builds leadership qualities that go far beyond the game.

In our time, women athletes continue to shape the future of sports. Many professional women athletes are seen in headlines, showing courage and providing motivation to young girls. Many women use the platforms made possible through Title IX to inspire girls who are beginning to understand what it takes to be a woman in sports.

While this day may seem like a celebration only for collegiate or professional athletes, it also honors women who find different ways to stay active. This can include club sports, intramural sports, or even playing pickup soccer under the lights. All of these spaces where women compete show how capable women are. While it is incredible that women are receiving more equal opportunities, there are still inequities. Women’s sports often receive less media coverage and fewer scholarship opportunities than men’s programs. Although women are breaking barriers every day, there is still a long way to go before true equality is achieved.

National Women and Girls in Sports Day is a reminder that the acceptance of women in sports did not happen overnight. It took years of determination, and the work is not finished yet. So go out there, cheer on the women you know who are breaking barriers, and celebrate what women are truly capable of.

Sources:

Pruitt, Sarah, "How Title IX Transformed Women’s Sports", history.com.