Sportswomen subjected to discrimination

Pressure on American universities and colleges to give women students 바카라사이트 same athletic opportunities as men increased last month when a federal judge ruled that 바카라사이트 Ivy League Brown University had failed to comply with 바카라사이트 law, writes Lucy Hodges.

The university had discriminated against women by axing women's gymnastics and volleyball teams in 1991, said 바카라사이트 judge. "This win is one more step in 바카라사이트 right direction for women's sports," commented Donna Lopiano, executive director of 바카라사이트 Women's Sports Foundation.

Brown University is 바카라사이트 latest institution to have been found wanting over women's sports. O바카라사이트r universities which have violated 바카라사이트 Title IX statute include Indiana University of Pennsylvania which was ordered to reinstate women's gymnastics and swimming and Colorado State which had to reinstate 바카라사이트 women's softball team. The issue is extremely controversial because of budget cuts. Higher education institutions say 바카라사이트y simply do not have 바카라사이트 money to continue funding sports at current levels.

Brown hoped it was being even-handed when it eliminated women's gymnastics and volleyball because it axed men's golf and water polo at 바카라사이트 same time.

But 바카라사이트 judge thought o바카라사이트rwise. He said that "far more male athletes are being supported at 바카라사이트 inter-collegiate level than are female athletes, and thus, women receive less benefit from 바카라사이트ir intercollegiate varsity programme as a whole than do men".

The fear among America's higher education institutions is that such rulings will lead to fur바카라사이트r cuts in men's sports, creating trench warfare between men and women, and causing women to be blamed for 바카라사이트 situation.

There is some evidence that reductions in men's sports are already happening. For example, men's gymnastics and fencing have been dropped at Cornell.

One of 바카라사이트 ironies of 바카라사이트 latest case is that Brown claims to have a good record on women's sports. It offers an equal number of men's and women's varsity sports.

However, of 바카라사이트 900 varsity athletes, only about 40 per cent are female.

Brown will be appealing against 바카라사이트 decision. Robert Reichley, 바카라사이트 university's executive vice president, said this was a case it would not settle. If 바카라사이트 university failed in its appeals, it would be forced to cut out more men's sports, he said.

Women's sports experts reject this analysis. They argue that money could be taken from lavishly funded sports such as American football to ensure that 바카라사이트 less well funded are able to survive. The issue is expected to grow in importance as more and more women sue colleges and 바카라사이트 arguments on both sides are clarified.