Gender Policy Feedback: Perceptions of Sex Equity, Title IX, and Political Mobilization among College Athletes

Abstract

Public policies invariably confer or deny benefits to particular citizens. How citizens respond to relevant policies has fundamental implications for democratic responsiveness. We study the beliefs of a core constituency of one of the most celebrated sex non-discrimination policies in U.S. history: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Using a novel survey of college student-athletes, we find strong support for the spirit of the policy, with the vast majority of respondents reporting the opinion that there "should" be equity. Concurrently, student-athletes also perceive maldistribution among status quo resources and opportunities and believe that redistribution is needed. Furthermore, they are willing to take political action to improve equality. Consistent with our expectations, these beliefs are particularly salient for women and those who perceive persistent sex discrimination in society. Our results reveal "positive policy feedback" among policy beneficiaries of Title IX who mobilize to seek equity in athletics. The dissatisfaction among policy beneficiaries raises questions about democratic responsiveness (e.g., to whom are policymakers and leaders in college athletics responding?) and highlights the political nature of college athletics.

Sex segregation as policy problem: a gendered policy paradox

“…On the one hand, policy has forced institutions to cease unilaterally denying women and girls access to competitive athletics. Increased opportunities mean that now eighty-seven percent of Americans believe that sports are "equally important" for girls and boys (YouGov 2017), and current college athletes overwhelmingly support sex equitable athletics systems (Druckman, Rothschild, and Sharrow 2018). Policy has created the conditions for women and girls to develop physical skills which directly defy the presupposition that they are incapable of sports.…”

“…Yet policy once made can be renegotiated. Evidence suggests that women athletes, rather than existing as a latent activist group, perceive implementation problems in policy and are prepared to politically mobilize around Title IX (Druckman, Rothschild, and Sharrow 2018). 43 Among elite athletes, the recent announcement of hyperandrogenism policies for some events in track and field were met with athlete protest (Fryer 2018).…”

Public Opinion, Crisis, and Vulnerable Populations: The Case of Title IX and COVID-19

“…We theorize that crises have the potential to loosen individuals’ commitments to institutionalized policy protections (Marcus et al 1995), particularly when personal interest is at stake (Huddy et al 2002). Title IX's athletic target population, student-athletes, is well suited to test this theory because (a) they have historically exhibited high levels of support for Title IX generally (Druckman, Rothschild, and Sharrow 2018), so shifts in their opinion make for a difficult test of the impacts of crises on rights for marginalized groups, and (b) their future fortunes depend directly on administrative decisions made in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Athlete advocacy has long been key to policy enforcement (Belanger 2016), and thus the impact of crisis on attitudes among this target population may have long-term implications for women's continued incorporation.…”

“…This U.S. federal law protects against sex discrimination in educational settings, perhaps exerting its most notable effect by stimulating the massive increase in athletic opportunities for women and girls and, more recently, providing pathways to address sexual assault and harassment. In the abstract, these types of government protections often garner widespread public support, and indeed, when asked about Title IX in general, the public and those in college athletics express strong policy support (Druckman, Rothschild, and Sharrow 2018; Women's Sports Foundation 2017).…”

Building Capacity of Community Sport Clubs to Increase Female Participation

“…An analysis of successful national sport strategies for increasing the participation of women in sport demonstrated the value of policies aimed at improving gender equity in sport and programs aimed specifically at women (Hartmann-Tews & Pfister, 2003). One example is the widespread support for policies and practices associated with the 'norm of equity' embedded in Title IX in the United States (Druckman, Rothschild, & Sharrow, 2018).…”