By Melanie Bennett
Parent "Tees Off" For Equity
A father contacted the Foundation for assistance in adding a girls' golf program at his daughter's high school. At the time the father contacted the Foundation, the school offered no team for the girls, and the girls had to compete on the boys' team. However, no girls have made the boys' team because they had a difficult time competing physically with the boys. The Advocacy Department sent him
Playing Fair, a resource that explains Title IX rules and regulations to help athletes, coaches, parents and others better analyze their school's athletic programs;
A Step by Step Guide to Gender Equity, a resource that gives activists a detailed, step-by-step plan for achieving gender equity; and information on filing a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). We encouraged him to make a formal request for the golf team in writing to the athletic director. The Advocacy Department also contacted the athletic director to discuss these issues; however, he refused to speak with the Advocacy Department. The athletic director held a meeting for any girls interested in golf, in order to assess what type of interest was out there. To demonstrate that viable interest existed, the father assembled a petition of 30 girls.
Success:The father's pressure worked. The high school athletic department is in the process of creating a varsity girls' golf team and has hired a coach for the upcoming year.
Geena's Hero:David, father of a female golfer
Wapakoneta, Ohio
Parent Prevents Season Change
A father contacted the Foundation after his state high school athletic association approved changing the golf season for girls in his state from spring to fall. Spring is the traditional season for golf, and fall play presents a disadvantage to the girls in terms of access to college recruiting and conflicts with other sports. The boys' golf season would have remained in the traditional season. The Advocacy Department explained that Title IX requires equitable scheduling of seasons for sports for boys and girls. If a girls' sport is played in a nontraditional season, then a boys' sport must also be played in a nontraditional season. The Advocacy Department recommended that the father bring these Title IX concerns to the attention of the state association, and we also provided him with an attorney referral.
Success:The father contacted his State Title IX Coordinator, who then called the state's athletic association to discuss the Title IX implications of his decision. The state association responded by calling an emergency session meeting. There, they repealed the decision to change the golf season for the girls. The association also realized that they needed to provide more participation opportunities for the girls in order to be compliant with Title IX and agreed to add more competitive divisions for girls in the state.
Geena's Hero:Bob, father of a female golfer
Father Fights for Daughter's Equal Treatment in Extra-Curricular Activities
A father of a high school gymnast contacted the Foundation for assistance with problems with his daughter's high school band. His daughter competes on a club gymnastics team and is also a member of the school's concert band. She was told that in order to participate in the school's concert band program next year, she would also have to be in the school's marching band, a change that would require that she miss her club gymnastics competitions and practices. The father said that other athletes at the school, like the school football players, are exempt from this requirement. They can participate in concert band without having to participate in the marching band. (They are exempt because marching band conflicts with their games.) The Advocacy Department explained that it is discriminatory for the school to apply this policy differently for its male and female athletes. We encouraged the father to follow our
A Step By Step Guide To Gender Equity. He contacted the school superintendent and expressed his concerns that the rule regarding band was discriminatory and a possible Title IX violation. We also told him to mention that he had spoken with the Foundation's Advocacy Department, who supported his concern.
Success:The father's conversation with the superintendent was successful. The superintendent investigated the matter and found that the band teacher was incorrect and he could not mandate that the gymnast join the marching band. She will now be allowed to perform with the concert band next year without having to miss gymnastics.
Geena's Hero:Mike, father of a female gymnast
Texas
Basketball Coach "Scores" Victory in Equity
A high school basketball coach contacted the Foundation for advice in improving gender equity issues at her school. While the school provides the boys' basketball program with a paid assistant coach, the girls' program was not provided with a paid assistant and had to use volunteer coaches. Additionally, the boys' program has access to weight training equipment, better locker rooms and additional amenities not available to the girls' program. The coach has spoken with the athletic director and superintendent and asked the school to address these issues and reimburse her volunteer coaches for their unpaid work this season. The Advocacy Department explained the application of Title IX to facilities and coaching and sent her
Playing Fair and
A Step by Step Guide to Gender Equity. We suggested that she conduct more research on Title IX to validate her arguments of non-compliance and continue to work within the school channels to remedy these problems.
Success:The coach's persistence worked. After bringing her Title IX concerns to the attention of the school superintendent, the school paid the girls' assistant basketball coach for her work last season.
Geena's Hero:Erin, high school girls' basketball coach
Oakland, California
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