According to the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 from the United States of America, “prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs receiving Federal financial assistance. Athletics are considered an integral part of an institution's education program and are therefore covered by this law.”

The aim is to ensure gender equality in college, reflected in having equal numbers of athletic scholarships for male and female student-athletes. “The number will be dictated by the student population. We try to offer a 50% balance but it also matches the student population on campus,” said Patrick Crawford. 

 

The law can be interpreted in two ways: the total number of scholarships at any college is equal for men and women. Or gender equity looked from an individual level, any athlete has the same opportunity to earn a scholarship regardless of their gender. However, it is impossible to meet both of these interpretations of gender equity.

 

Division I and NAIA schools give 25.918 football scholarships every year. The next sport, women’s basketball which gives out 10.165 scholarships per year. “The NCAA dictates that we have to offer the same or more to women's sports. Football has 85 scholarships, a number that is always difficult to catch up with the female sports. I work with swimming and diving, and the women roster is bigger than the men. I worked with Purdue soccer in which they don't have a men's soccer program. These are two instances in which women in different sports benefit from that football number taking away in some aspects,” states Ben Turner.