Balancing fairness, inclusion and the future of women's sports

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The Trump administration has recently changed Title IX to exclude transgender women from participating in women’s sports. This has sparked debates about fairness, inclusion and fears of how this could harm all female athletes.  

Title IX is a law that provides equal opportunities and protections for male and female athletes. Established in 1972, it prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program receiving federal funding. 

“Title IX affects a lot of what I do, even just being able to play,” said Abbey Graham, a sophomore business administration major on the lacrosse team.

Chapman C.A.R.E.S recently created a petition criticizing the Chapman Title IX office for its lack of support and detailing the lengthy legal process for survivors of sexual assault, calling for advocates to support students through the reporting process.  

Swimmer Kylee Edwards, a junior writing for film and television major, said many coaches are mandated reporters. 

“If you bring anything to them, they will report it to athletics, or they can also refer you to the Title IX office,” said Edwards. 

Graham said the athletic department briefly touches on Title IX in a slideshow presentation at the yearly athletic meeting. 

“I wouldn't say it's a popular topic,” she said. “Maybe it's like one slide in a slideshow or something.” 

Graham added that she sees more information regarding Title IX posted in the bathroom. 

MJ Smith, a senior strategic and corporate communication major on the soccer team, also said the athletic department should provide more information on Title IX and women athletes' rights rather than discussing it briefly at the athletic meeting. 

“I feel like it's a one-and-done type thing,” she said. “Maybe it needs to be more of a monthly thing.” 

The Biden administration overhauled protections for LGBTQ+ students to include gender identity and sexual orientation but gave no direction on transgender athletes in sports. However, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Feb. 5 to restrict “biological men” from competing in women’s sports, stating, ‘The Executive Order upholds the promise of Title IX and ends the dangerous and unfair participation of men in women’s sports.’ 

Edwards said much of the rhetoric around Title IX is not about protecting women or equality for athletes but rather about marginalizing transgender and non-binary individuals. 

“A lot of the conversations in the recent years about trans and gender-nonconforming people in sports is just kind of excluding them,” said Edwards. 

Here at Chapman, however, the swim team and dive head coach Juliet Suess is committed to inclusivity and uniting male and female athletes in the coed sport.

“We call it the high tops and the low tops, just to be more gender inclusive,” said Edwards. 

Chapman athletes may see changes to the athletic department as the university evaluates new mandated policies, according to Colleen Wood, assistant vice president for student affairs and associate dean of students. 

“The university is reviewing all recent executive orders and related guidance applicable to higher education and is assessing required policy changes,” Wood told The Panther. 

Edwards said that for her, the news about changes in the Title IX legislation was disheartening. 

“Hearing change in Title IX really disappointed me because athletics is like any other type of club or group activity for people to get together, have fun and feel like they're a part of something,” said Edwards. 

Graham said changes to Title IX could have unintended consequences for all athletes, not just trans women. 

“I just think a lot of the changes, even though they're trying to answer one debatable issue, I think they end up affecting a lot more than that,” said Graham.

According to Charlie Baker, the president of the NCAA, fewer than 10 transgender athletes were competing among more than 500,000 athletes in the NCAA, which he testified on in a Senate hearing back in December.

Smith said the answer to the debate over transgender athletes remains unclear, but Title IX and athletic departments need to focus on balancing inclusion and fairness.

“It’s really tough because everyone wants equality to be fair and not feel fixed,” she said. “How do we fix something that might be fixed? I don't know.” 

Suess is an advisor on the IMPACT Committee, which focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion and mental health initiatives for student-athletes, and said part of their work was creating a safe space for athletes to decompress.

“We provide an opportunity to come and get away from all the noise,” said Suess. “The most important thing (among the legislative changes) is that we are listening to (the athletes).”

For some women athletes, equality in sports ultimately comes down to a systemic issue rather than a university issue.

According to Cheryl Cooky, a Purdue professor of interdisciplinary studies, in 2019, coverage of women’s sports in the media only made up about 5.4% of total airtime. 

Smith said this systemic issue is also a problem at Chapman, where the football team receives more resources and funding, while the women’s soccer team was not allowed to keep their sweatshirts at the end of the season.

“It’s hard because you kind of need to get the results for people to fund you, and then you can't fund everybody,” said Smith. 

Graham echoed a similar frustration, saying the girls’ lacrosse team, which has a smaller fan turnout, had to fight for practice time.

“Women’s sports are just not as popular,” said Graham.

When it comes to Chapman athletics, Suess said the university provides a supportive environment overall, but always has room to grow, as not everyone fits into the boxes listed by the NCAA.

“I hope that all of the coaches take the opportunity to recognize that all the legislation that comes down from (the) NCAA is affecting all the athletes,” Suess said.