An attitudinal study of gender equity perceptions from athletic administrators and coaches in the Mid-American Conference

Abstract

Within the past three years, men's track and field teams were being eliminated in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Gender equity legislation, namely Title IX, was being blamed for those cuts. By probing the beliefs and opinions of coaches and administrators, a more accurate representation of gender equity could be drawn. The focus of this study was to gain a greater understanding of how gender equity is perceived by Mid-American Conference (MAC) athletic administrators and coaches.Q-methodology was chosen as the most relevant method to achieve the desired outcome. This method would take the subjective opinions and beliefs of the subjects and transform them into numbers that could be analyzed. The resulting information would create factors, or groups,which would help draw some conclusions on the true impact of gender equity legislation in the MAC.The subjects of this study provided two distinct factors labeled: "Title IX Defenders" and "Title IX Amenders." Title IX Defenders felt adamant that Title IX should not be altered. They primarily wanted to protect the integrity of the legislation. Title IX Amenders felt that Title IX should be altered to prevent further damage to men's non-revenue athletes, while continuing to protect female athletes.