Title IX Anniversary Examines Progress, Disparities in Girls' Athletics

[The Straight Story]

Title IX Anniversary Examines Progress, Disparities in Girls' Athletics
Written for the web by C. Johnson, Internet News Producer

Female athletes congregated at the State Capitol to celebrate strides made in women's athletics thanks in large part to Title IX, federal legislation passed 34 years ago Wednesday that ensures equal access to sports programs for young girls and women.

However, even though Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity within an institution receiving any type of federal financial assistance, some say the playing field still isn't level.

Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Carson, said inequities are still evident when a compariosn is made between men's and women's athletic programs at California colleges and universities.

The most obvious difference is that there are fewer athletic scholarships for women than there are for men. "We're told by the universities that donors want to donate to football," said Oropeza. "But I think universities do have a great deal of discretion on where they put their dollars."

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