• Men's teams received nearly $3 out of every $4 spent for operating expenses.
• Female athletes received $142 million less in scholarship aid than men on NCAA teams.
• In Division 1-A, the head coaches of NCAA women's teams made 63 cents for every $1 paid to head coaches of men's teams. (Women's Sports Foundation, NCAA).
When women and men participate in sports dominated by the opposite gender there is often great objection to individuals defying the norm. Often women are the people who attempt to participate in so called non-traditional sports. But just as significantly, men are struggling against a similar struggle. An example of this is when men participate on field hockey teams dominated by women, creating positive and negative results to the game and also socially. However, individuals who make the move across gender boundaries in any sport are helping pave the way for equality in an area of our society that is still clear in the traditional sex roles. Those who oppose men participating in field hockey claim that their presence on the field will change the nature of the "women's" game. The greater strength of men could make the game more aggressive or even violent, and potentially overpower the female athletes (gender boundaries). .
There has been an argument that female participation in sports provides a ground where girls and women can become confident to challenge any obstacle that life has to offer. Many people see men as a threat to this value believing that a mans presence on the field could intimidate the women, thereby dominating the game, and taking away a safe place for girls to grow and find their own strengths. An additional argument in opposition to men participating in field hockey, as well as other female dominated sports is associated with equality.
It is suggested that despite title IX, females have yet to gain gender equality and are still not given the benefits that their male counterparts receive.
