Karen Williams, Assistant Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator, at Claflin University, attended the NCAA Equity and Inclusion Forum in New Orleans, LA, April 29-May 2, 2012. This years' forum focused on, “Forty years after the passage of Title IX, improving women experiences in sports, through Title IX's participation in equal opportunities.” The three day event consisted of topics which reflect the concerns, attitudes, and efforts facing females in athletics today.
Mrs. Williams, a Patterson, NJ native is a six year veteran of collegiate athletics at Claflin, expressed concerns about the disparity of women's head coaches/men head coaches in women's sports. The forum helps women to network with colleagues at various institutions, to help mentor young females in becoming head coaches and administrators in athletics, and receiving equitable treatment in their sport, or profession.
The Purpose of this alliance is to provide support to women in the coaching profession through ongoing career development programs as well as to increase the number of women coaches at all levels in all sports. The Title IX Program aims to be a strong advocate for equal opportunities for all women in athletics regardless of age, race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/ or religion. “Concerns have arisen about the number of men coaching women's sports having increased in the past ten years. After seeing the number of women head coaches increase the first thirty years since Title IX was passed, had made women in athletics optimistic, but the statistical data the past ten years have women now more concerned that the pendulum has shifted,” said Mrs. Williams. All college campuses need to have the discussion on strategies to elevate women in our profession and in sports.
The forum was attended by hundreds of female athletics administrators, Human Resource representatives, male administrators, and coaches from NCAA colleges and universities throughout the country.
The compelling question of the forum was “Are we there yet” as women?
