Sports participation is critical for a female of color just as it is for all females. Sport and physical activity are effective interventions to addressing the obesity crisis, and research shows that sports and physical activity participation has an incredibly positive impact on the lives of girls, especially girls of color, who are in greater need of both opportunities and encouragement. Athletic opportunities for female athletes of color have grown at double the rate of those for white female athletes since the passage of Title IX.
Title IX has increased sports participation and scholarship opportunities for all female athletes, including significant numbers of women of color. However, there is still work to be done for women of color to gain equal representation and opportunities in athletics. The following position paper discusses the relationship between Title IX and discrimination on the basis of race/ ethnicity and addresses those steps that must be taken to further advance opportunities for women of color in sport