A simple Google search of “Syracuse basketball” only shows the men’s schedule. And the same result occurs for many universities, most notably at University of Connecticut where women’s basketball team is renowned.

In the past nine home games for Syracuse men’s basketball this season an average of 20,809 people attended and in the past eight home games for the women’s team an average of 596 people have attended. The numbers say it all — women are less supported by fans in athletics than men. This is not an opinion, but a fact at SU.

Our idea of what makes an athlete must change. An athlete is a dedicated, hard working, skillful individual. These characteristics are not exclusive to the male body, and we must stop seeing it this way.

The reason for low attendance is not because women are less talented — Syracuse women have a 10-5 record while the men own a comparable 11-4 record. Students and fans, regardless of their genders, are cheering on women less, even when women’s tickets are significantly cheaper. Courtside tickets for the men’s game against Wake Forest cost roughly $150 while women’s tickets against the same school are $24.70, according to Ticketmaster. These prices are consistent regardless the games’s time and date.

These numbers and trends are not foreign; this is seen on a national level. The NCAA reported in 2014 18 million more people attended men’s Division I basketball games over women’s. Keep in mind there are 343 women’s teams and 345 men’s teams, reaching near equality in the amount of teams.

It has been 42 years since Title IX was passed and every year more women participate in college athletics. As more women participate, more people should attend their games. We must show women that being an athlete is just as promising for a career as it is for men, and we must do such by supporting them. Universities must advertise women’s games just like the men’s.

We as a university must strive for equality in supporting college athletes regardless of gender.
Student athletes put in the same amount of time and dedication to perform on the court; it is only fair as a student body and fan base we cheer them on equally.

Men and women alike argue that women’s sports simply don’t have the same legacy or powerhouses that would draw them in. But there are plenty of women powerhouses that deserve their jersey to be worn by the fans, just like the men have the privilege to.

The argument that women are less talented or athletic is nonsensical; men and women can play the same game with the same rules and compete at the same level of athleticism — and we should show them that we know it.

Julia Smith is a junior newspaper and online journalism and sociology dual major. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at jcsmit11@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @jcsmith711.

Published on January 12, 2015 at 12:15 am