Katie Postich

UGA Alumni, Sport Management Major​

"NO WO-MEN"

 

Was posted outside of a locker room for a professional men’s team in response to female reporters roughly 30 years ago. This is just one of the many disparities illustrated in ESPN’s Nine for IX third documentary film “Let Them Wear Towels”, aired this past Tuesday, July 16. ESPN has launched a nine-week film series, all of which are directed by females, in recognition of Title IX’s 40 anniversary. Nine for IX airs on ESPN for the next six Tuesdays at 8PM ET.

 

Why does this anniversary deserve acknowledgement you may ask? Well, title IX was a law passed in 1972 that requires gender equity for boys and girls in every educational program that receives federal funding. (as written in: http://www.titleix.info/History/History-Overview.aspx) This is foundation for having an equal number of male and female athletes on varsity teams at colleges/universities that receive any amount of government funding (consider how many women’s sports originated to balance out that 120 person football roster). However, just because the law was in place did not mean there was equality for all. These nine films depict the triumphs and tribulations women experienced (and still face) while paving their way in sports history. 

 

If you didn’t catch the first three films, here is a quick recap of each:

 

Venus Vs.

Venus Williams took Wimbledon head on in the fight for equal pay, as it was the sole remaining ATP tournament that paid the men’s champion more than the women’s champion. In the last few years, it was by a laughable amount, roughly a few thousand dollars. The most memorable quote that left me picking my mouth up off the floor?  “If we paid women more, we wouldn't have as much to spend on petunias”, made by a Wimbledon official in 1999; TWENTY SEVEN years after Title IX. However, since Wimbledon was a privately held event they could dictate the prize money difference. It was with Serena Williams’ persistence, and many other top female tennis athletes, that pay was finally equalized in 2007.

 

Pat XO

Pat Summitt, the former head women’s basketball coach at the University of Tennessee, has been iconic in women’s athletics since 1974. With sixteen SEC Championships and eight National titles under her belt, it could be argued that she was the first female who had people view her accomplishments as accomplishments in sports, not just female sports. This short film takes you through Pat’s life from an early age, to her first-and only-job as the head coach of UT Lady Vols. Jaw dropping moment was learning she took the job at the age of 22 while simultaneously earning her Master’s degree.

 

Let Them Wear Towels

…is where my  title “NO WO-MEN” originated. This short film revolves around female reporters’ denied access to men’s locker room in professional sports leagues until the the 1970’s and ‘80’s (depending on the league). This issue wasn’t just about gender; it was about letting women do their job. Men were scoring crucial quotes from top players while women were left knocking on the door, literally. My takeaway fact was in 1990 (you read correctly), after the NFL granted access for women in locker rooms, a female reporter for the Boston Herald was sexually harassed in the New England Patriots locker room. 

 

The overarching theme to these films is the adversity women have faced in all aspects of sport and, even better, how they’ve overcome them.  Women still have to keep pounding pavement to steer their way in this industry, but if these stories don't cause young girls to jump into a boy’s pickup game then I don’t know what will.