Since Title IX passed on June 23, 1972, gender hasn’t been a barrier to any type of educational or activity program, at least legally.
Title IX has leveled the playing field to getting into sports, the way previous laws have made it possible for women doctors and lawyers to get training and certification.
Now in 2013, the biggest question isn’t can women perform on the same level as men, but the biggest question is will women ever get the same levels of viewership or respect that men in sports have today?
According to an article written by Analyst Joe Daneault on sidelinesapp.com, WNBA games average only 413,000 viewers, but the NBA averages 1.4 million, which is more than triple the audience.
DePaul Blue Demon freshmen guard Jessica January said fans don’t want to watch women play sports because they think that men can play better. She said DePaul women’s basketball team has a better program and winning record than the men’s team, but the men still attract five times more of the fans than they do.
“Fans pay for entertainment,” January said. “Majority of the time men are able to perform better than women. In the sport of basketball, men are more athletic; they can dunk and they’re more exciting to watch. Right now audiences across the world demand that they see men play.”
Sports Commentator Alison Moran, who works at Jstreetradio 98.3 FM WRLR, said businesses will do anything to sell their product even if it means using their star player, whether it is a man or a woman.
“Advertisement rules and marketing costs so if you want to make money, then you have to put your most innovative and best product out there,” Moran said. “If that involves a woman then so be it, if that involves a man then so be it because you have to remember to give the audience what it wants.”
January said even though men are watched and televised more, she still believes that women are respected and valued for their hard-work by their fans.
“People just want to watch what is most entertaining to them and most of the time that is men’s sports,” January said. “Just because women athletes don’t receive as much publicity doesn’t mean that they aren’t respected.”
“The idea that women are equal to men in sports is still fairly new,” January said. “I think in time more people will understand us, and in result they will want to watch women compete.”
As women athletes wait patiently for more people to enjoy their style of play, they still continue to face obstacles like lower pay than men, teasing and even in some cases disrespect in a male-dominated sports industry.
January said even though she has been teased for being a girl who plays in a male dominate-sport, she continues to play her hardest and not worry about the different sexes in the game.
“When I participate in sports, I don’t see different genders,” January said. “I play to compete against other competitors regardless. I think other women feel the same due to our past history of being neglected to even participate in sports. Most female athletes today welcome the challenge.”
January stated that throughout her career she has noticed a significant difference in not only the way women and men play, but how they are treated in the business of sports as well.
“Men are clearly more respected,” January said. “Majority of the time women only report women sports, but men are allowed to report on men and women’s sports. It’s like women aren’t certified to speak about men when they are playing sports.”
Moran said even though women have come a long way, there are still some barriers that need to be broken in sports.
She says that she can see this change happening in the next two to three decades.
“We will see women as play-by-play announcers; we will see where the business of broadcasting won’t be a gender specific option, and most importantly we will see women professional sports own the same businesses that the NFL own today,” Moran said.
“It will be a much more equal playing field in the next 20 years.”
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