ABSTRACT
Women’s sport participation at the collegiate level has steadily increased in the modern era. Governance and fan interest are, however, overwhelmingly male dominated. In response to issues of gender equity within the industry, members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the predominant organization of intercollegiate athletics governance in the United States, have been prodded toward addressing inclusion and equity within the governance and sport participation opportunities in intercollegiate athletics. Specific measures taken include the NCAA designation of a Primary (now Senior) Woman Administrator in 1981, the organization of a Gender-Equity Task Force in 1993, and the development of the Emerging Sport Program in 1994. Currently, each of these initiatives is still in existence, because gender equity has not yet been reached. This chapter begins with a brief historical overview of college sport governance, then transitions to issues in intercollegiate athletics governance for women, discusses the work of the NCAA Gender-Equity task force, and concludes with issues of fan interest and financing with a specific focus on women’s basketball and softball.
