Title IX Feminism, Social Justice, and NCAA Reform

22 Pages Posted: 22 Nov 2014

See all articles by Erin Buzuvis

Erin Buzuvis

Western New England University School of Law

Date Written: 2014

Abstract

This Article discusses social justice feminism as it applies to gender discrimination in collegiate and scholastic athletics in the context of Title IX requirements. Title IX activists today are primarily concerned with securing equal resources and opportunities for women in a college athletic environment. Today, that environment is becoming increasingly commercialized; this presents a Title IX problem because it creates an incentive to invest more athletic department resources into certain men’s athletic programs instead of distributing them equitably to women’s (and other men’s) programs. In addition, the NCAA is presently considering or has recently undertaken deregulation initiatives in a variety of areas, further increasing the incentives for college athletic departments to devote more resource to favored men’s sports.

The Article looks to social justice feminism as a lens through which to imagine Title IX advocates’ response to the system's trend toward growing commercialization and deregulation. This position takes into account race-based and other forms of subordination created by that system in addition to gender discrimination. To make its case, the Article explores the history of athletics as a tool of white patriarchy and the “inter-relationships between interlocking oppressions” inherent in the commercialized model of college athletics. Ultimately, the Article argues that college athletics reform should be understood not only as a Title IX issue, but as a social justice issue as well.

Keywords: Title IX, gender discrimination, sex discrimination, sports law, social justice feminism, collegiate athletics, scholastic athletics

Suggested Citation

Buzuvis, Erin, Title IX Feminism, Social Justice, and NCAA Reform (2014). Freedom Center Journal, Vol. 5, p. 101, 2014, Western New England University School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 14-14, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2528725

Erin Buzuvis (Contact Author)

Western New England University School of Law ( email )

1215 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119
United States

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