Gender Policy Feedback

Perceptions of Sex Equity, Title IX, and Political Mobilization among College Athletes

Bibliographic Data

ID6338708
AuthorsJames N Druckman (0000-0002-1249-6790, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA, corresponding author), Jacob E Rothschild (Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA), Elizabeth A Sharrow (0000-0001-5880-7905, University of Massachusetts Amherst)
Year2018
Volume71
Issue3
Pages642-653
Publication date2018-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitical Research Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1065-9129 • E-ISSN: 1938-274X
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1065912917753078
OpenAlexW2745994365
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited51

Public policies invariably confer or deny benefits to particular citizens. How citizens respond to relevant policies has fundamental implications for democratic responsiveness. We study the beliefs of a core constituency of one of the most celebrated sex non-discrimination policies in U.S. history: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Using a novel survey of college student-athletes, we find strong support for the spirit of the policy, with the vast majority of respondents reporting the opinion that there “should” be equity. Concurrently, student-athletes also perceive mal-distribution among status quo resources and opportunities and believe that redistribution is needed. Furthermore, they are willing to take political action to improve equality. Consistent with our expectations, these beliefs are particularly salient for women and those who perceive persistent sex discrimination in society. Our results reveal “positive policy feedback” among policy beneficiaries of Title IX who mobilize to seek equity in athletics. The dissatisfaction among policy beneficiaries raises questions about democratic responsiveness (e.g., to whom are policymakers and leaders in college athletics responding?) and highlights the political nature of college athletics

Affirmative action · Athletes · College athletics · Democracy · Equity (law · Higher education · Perception · Political science · Politics · Public opinion · Public relations · Status quo · Gender Politics and Representation · Law · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Psychology · Public Administration · Sports, Gender, and Society

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