Title IX

I'm a post Title IX kid. Thankfully. Quite honestly, I love sport. Playing. I prefer watching in person over television but would rather be playing than watching - any day. I was lucky that I had a mom who wanted to play sports but couldn't (pre-title IX) and as a result signed me up for everything. Soccer, basketball, softball, swimming and track. There's a year of dance in there too but I can't even write about that… Yet.

It's been over 40 years since Title IX became a law. Signed in by Richard Nixon. (That makes me giggle just a little bit…)

You'd think we'd be past all the sexism in sports and all the rest but we aren't. How is it that we're in the 'modern world' and yet when I run through town I get honked, whistled and yelled at. Some teenagers recently yelled out, 'NICE ASS!' as they passed me in a car.

My thoughts on that - A) I don't have an 'ass'. My back goes right into my legs. It's a miracle I can even sit. B) If these teenage boys think I do in fact have a nice ass, the quality of the porn they are accessing is poor. Very, very poor. Do they not know how to use the internet? C) Do they think that this is flattering? Or are they just little assholes?

I mean, really, is this where we are in 2014?

More girls are playing sports than ever before. When I was a kid I was the only girl on the co-ed team. I'm pretty sure I was the only girl in the league. I love seeing all the little kids signed up for U6 soccer now - it's almost even between boys and girls at that age - quite different than the 80's - in North Idaho at least.

Girls who play sports get better grades, are less likely to become a teen parent and have a lower chance of getting cancer. Not to mention the health benefits of just getting out and playing. Plus teamwork, camaraderie and all that goes with it.

So with all this data, with more financial equality in sports than ever before, with more girls getting out on the court, pitch, track and field…

Well, just imagine my surprise when I read a recent soccer scholarship request.

Most scholarship requests are filled out by parents. Due to a layoff or other family hardship they request a discount. In return, we ask for volunteer hours. Painting lines on fields, sorting forms, delivering registration forms to schools, etc. This particular form was filled out by what was clearly a teenage girl. Bubble printed letters.

I asked the usual questions to the other board members at the meeting - does the family have an outstanding balance, how many years have they played for us, how many family members are in our club?

My friend and fellow board member shifted in her seat.

"They've played with us for years. The balance on the other kids in the family is paid in full."

"Okay. What's the situation now?"

"The dad thinks that this is too much to pay. For a girl."

We all exchanged looks. And then the rage came.

Now, this wouldn't be the first board meeting that has had me me in a twist or the first (and certainly won't be the last) where I haven't been able to contain the profanity. Sometimes it just comes out. I'll spare you all (mostly my mom) the actual transcript of what I said. Rest assured that my favorite word was used. Repeatedly.

But, really? Seriously? 42 years after Title IX? 58% of medals in the last Olympics to female athletes?

There will always be jerks in the world. No amount of anything will stop that.

So, all we can do is get out there and play.