Story Published: Feb 2, 2012 at 12:37 AM PDT
Story Updated: Feb 2, 2012 at 12:40 AM PDT
Cathy Claussen heads WSU's Sports Management program. She says we have come a long way but inequality still exists.
She points to financial and cultural reasons as the culprits. Claussen says girls represent 50% of high school graduates, but just 42 % of high school athletes. She says the numbers are more skewed for college. Women represent 57% of university undergraduates but just 43% of college athletes.
"I'm worried because of this athletics arms race that is going on where we spend ever increasing amounts on college athletics in particular facility renovations and just huge contracts for coaches and things like that," said Claussen. "If Title IX weren't in place, I think we'd see a huge slip in opportunities for women."
Claussen says Title IX applies to all areas of education, not just sports.
She also says they're doing very well at WSU regarding gender equality in athletics. She says they're about 50-50.
