Sarah Garcia: Playing field still not equal for women

Gender inequality in athletics still exists. This problem is clear in professional, college and sports. Women athletes underpaid, undervalued and underprivileged. When women receive media coverage, they receive less and it is more likely to be based on sex appeal than their athletic accomplishments.

According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, female high school athletes receive 1.3 million fewer athletic participation opportunities than males. Female college athletes receive $183 million less in NCAA athletic scholarships than males.

Title IX prohibits gender discrimination in schools that receive federal funding. Yet, schools across the country still do not provide equal opportunities for girls to participate in sports and do not provide girls’ teams equal benefits and resources.

Is this a problem in the Turlock/Modesto region? Absolutely. At a second-round volleyball playoff match at a local high school, the gym was filled with spectators. But only one side of the gym was open. We would never dream of opening only one side of the gym for a boys’ basketball game – playoff or not. This is simply one example of women’s sports being disrespected. It is a violation of Title IX. . Laws don’t ensure the equal treatment of others, people do.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 10:49 AM with the headline "Sarah Garcia: Playing field still not equal for women."