|
|
League of Fans Founded by Ralph Nader, League of Fans is a sports reform project working to improve sports by increasing awareness of the sports industry's relationship to society, exposing irresponsible business practices, ensuring accountability to fans, and encouraging the industry to contribute to societal well-being.Alerts is League of Fans' email announcements list. Alerts provides news, information, the actions of League of Fans and/or Ralph Nader regarding sports issues, and calls-to-action for subscribers. All email updates are either selected or written by League of Fans. League of Fans is motivated by people, just like you, who are upset with what has become of our sports and would like to make a difference. We work with concerned citizens, sports fans, civic groups and communities to increase awareness of the sports industry's relationship to society, influence a broad range of issues in sports at all levels and encourage the cooperative capacities that make the "sports powers-that-be" capable of helping, not just dominating, our society and culture. We often think of sports as outside the realm of everyday citizen concern. But the many benefits to society that sports can provide are sometimes undermined by a different set of values, often based on the quest for higher and higher profits at the expense of fans, taxpayers, communities, culture and social justice. Get Involved! Your involvement will improve sports for communities and fans, and encourage the sports industry to better contribute to societal well-being. |
Celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day League of Fans
On Wednesday, February 9, 2005, thousands of people across the country will celebrate female athletic achievement and emphasize the importance of sports and fitness participation for girls and women. Your support of National Girls & Women in Sports Day will go a long way toward increasing visibility for female athletes and advancing their struggle for equality in sports.
Even though there are many new and exciting developments for female athletes, sports participation opportunities for women and girls, operating budgets, and scholarship and recruitment dollars are still vastly lower than for men’s sports. One of the most important and successful civil rights laws in U.S. history, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 bars sex discrimination in any educational program or activity that receives federal funding, including athletics.
Two years ago, League of Fans and Ralph Nader joined with many organizations and individuals in the fight to preserve Title IX from a Bush Administration attempt to weaken the law. President Bush’s appointment of a Blue Ribbon panel, called the Commission on Opportunity in Athletics, made recommendations to change Title IX policies that would have diminished three decades of progress in athletics for women. This energized millions of supporters who exposed baseless arguments from opponents of Title IX and finally led to the Department of Education upholding the Title IX standards of compliance now in use. It was a great victory.
The benefits of Title IX are not limited to opening opportunities for girls and women who are happier, healthier and more confident because they have played sports. And the benefits do not end with the countless women who have gone on to successful careers and trace their accomplishments back to Title IX. What Title IX has achieved in influencing boys and men who respect girls and women and their athletic, academic and workplace abilities is every bit as important and nothing short of remarkable.
But there are perpetual attempts to challenge and dismantle Title IX, which therefore requires its continual defense and celebration of female athletic achievement. League of Fans asks that to commemorate National Girls & Women in Sports Day, readers participate in some way to help women’s athletics. The National Association for Girls & Women in Sport suggests 10 simple ways to make a difference:
1. Buy a basketball, glove, soccer ball or other sport gift for your favorite sportsgirl - send her the message that you think she can play sports.
2. Take your friends and family to a women's sports event - high school, college, or professional sports.
3. Watch a women's sports program on television and call the station to thank them for carrying women's sports (so they'll continue to air women's sports programs).
4. Write a letter to your local newspaper editor either asking them for fairer coverage of women's sports or thanking them for great coverage.
5. Buy women's collegiate and professional sports merchandise like t-shirts and hats. It's an important way to advance the economic success of your favorite team.
6. Take someone who has never attended a women's sports event to a high school, college, or professional women's sports game. Introduce others to the excitement of women's sports. Help grow the fan base!
7. Visit your local sports retail store. If they are not carrying licensed merchandise for your favorite women's sports team, write to the manager to tell him or her you want to purchase this product and you would appreciate it if they would carry it. If they are carrying the product, thank them for doing so.
8. Write to sponsors of women's sports to tell them how much you appreciate their support of women's sports.
9. Conduct a sports clinic for local elementary school girls. Tell each girl why it's so important for them to play sports and how much fun it is.
10. Grade your school on whether it is treating male and female athletes equally. Write a letter to the principal either asking for change or applauding the school's commitment to girls' sports. Get a School Report Card from the Women’s Sports Foundation to give you a better understanding of how well your educational institution complies with Title IX.
- More on National Girls & Women in Sports Day -
National Girls and Women in Sport Coalition
Women’s Sports Foundation
- Her Life Depends On It (a report from the Women’s Sports Foundation) -
“...the most comprehensive compilation of research to date about the impact of physical activity on the physical, psychological and cultural health of girls. The report points to physical activity and sport as fundamental solutions for many of the serious health and social problems faced by girls.”
Full Report (PDF)
- More on Title IX -
|