You Make The Call

Friday, May 24, 1996

Some responses to our last call-in question:

"Are female athletes getting their fair share?"


Peggy Chun, Kaimuki: "I have two daughters, 10 and 12, who play softball. For both my daughters, finding a practice field runs second to what's available after the boys are through with it. The boys get first choice. There are many young girls out there playing softball, but for us to get a field we have to go out and pay a certain school to use their field, and in addition three of the coaches had to fix up the field. You would never find that in boys' baseball. There are always fields available, and they're in top condition. Even the umpires we get are the bottom of the barrel."

Judy Foster, Kaimuki: "Not enough is being done for female athletes, in comparison to programs for boys and men. It seems there's a lot of resistance. They're saying 'We're doing what we can' instead of 'let's get together and see what we can do together, and see how we can work things out.' They should be focusing on the positive. There's so much resistance from men who don't see the value and the things that athletics can do for girls as well as boys. It's a shame we have to waste our resources on a lawsuit instead of spending that money on making programs better."

Leilani Okuda, Liliha: "I'm for gender equity, and I've been involved in interscholastic sports for a number of years. The irony is the best place they can put a girls' softball field is on a football field. Over the years, nothing has changed. The dimensions are unsafe. The field is in excellent condition, but the point is, do the girls deserve to be playing on a football field?"

Mike Vasconcellos, Diamond Head: "The intent is there. But in Hawaii the follow-through is impeded due to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association not being very efficient and productive in its management of the sports."

D.J. Bactad, Hawaii Kai: "Obviously, female athletics is not getting its share. Although money is a substantial factor, I believe interest is the overriding factor. There is more interest in male-played sports because of athletic ability."

Lita Morgado, Kailua: "My sister and I played high school sports for four years. Girls have not been getting fair treatment in regards to uniforms, places they play, and other areas. UH has been trying to do a better job at their level. I'd like to see that happen for girls' high school sports.

Lisa Ginoza, Honolulu: "I've been involved in athletics in Hawaii for a number of years, and feel that the state, at both the high school and college levels, has a long way to go in meeting the civil rights requirements set forth in Title IX. I'm especially dismayed by the quote in (last night's) paper that Title IX was not established with enough research into different parts of the country. Fairness and civil rights do not change with the part of the country you live in."


CALL US: Look for You Make The Call every Thursday in the Star-Bulletin. A telephone number for you to call will be provided then. Look for comments to the weekly telephone survey on Friday.



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