“No one cares about women’s sports” is a phrase I have heard one too many times. But why? What is so different about women’s sports? When you stop and think about it, there are very few discrepancies between men’s and women’s sports. I think it is because we have been conditioned by society to believe that women’s accomplishments in sports will never be equivalent to a man’s.
Title IX, passed on June 23, 1972, by President Richard Nixon, is a law that In the world of women’s sports, this was a game-changer, women would now receive the same amount of scholarship money as their male counterparts. While there is no doubt that Title IX was a turning point in women’s sports, there are still institutions that turn a blind eye to Title IX regulations. For example, 80-90 percent of institutions do not follow the guidelines regarding athletics. Because these institutions receive federal funding, the consequence of not following the rules is to withdraw some of the funding, granted that has never happened.
While this problem has improved with the popularity of Caitlin Clark, Olivia Dunne, Parker Valby, and other female collegiate athletes, it has yet to be solved at the high school level. While “Friday Night Lights” is a county-wide event, the women’s volleyball game or soccer match is seen as a regular day in the eyes of Woodford County citizens. The problem isn’t that the teams are bad or boring to watch, it’s the fact that people don’t realize what they’re missing out on.
I recently went to the girl’s volleyball game against Frankfort Independence, here at the high school, and it was amazing, to say the least. Watching the girls play is incredibly electrifying, and impressive. The team’s energy is palpable, and you can tell how much they love what they do. The team has a family dynamic, one that is fine-tuned and has a sense of togetherness. As the game progressed, I was getting more and more lost in the beauty of the game. I will admit that I am easily bored by most sporting events, but women’s volleyball is an exception.
I don’t think this problem has a straightforward solution, I think that it’s dependent on the specific sport. When you think about it when sports are combined, meaning boys and girls on one team, like track and field, the problem isn’t as prevalent. I am a member of the track and field team here at the high school and I have never felt that the boy’s team gets more publicity or attention.
Women’s sports are just now gaining the popularity and attention that they deserve. I am hoping that with time, the stands of women’s high school sports are packed and full of loyal fans. After all, they deserve everything and more for their work.
