I was conversing with a colleague at work earlier today and part of the focus was on a female colleague, an executive, whose attire might be politely described as beyond mainstream. At some point my colleague, a Ph.D. sociologist and ardent feminist, brought up Kim Mulkey’s attire. She seemed to be favorable toward Kim’s choices. For fun I related EastTexasTrash’s campaign to post a different picture of her each week, and I then described a couple. She, the Ph.D., then brought up Muffett McGraw. I don’t remember why. I commented that in general I liked what Muffett wore but then made the grand mistake of saying the black leather dress and animal print top she wore at the 2014 championship game (I think) was an exception, that it was a bit much for me and that I didn’t think a woman her age should wear something like that to such an occasion. I was courteously reminded that it is not my place to judge what a middle-aged woman, or any woman for that matter, ought or ought not wear. She then generously shared with me the video floating around on the web which illustrates the issue of how male athletes are not asked the same questions women athletes or sideline reporters are asked.
Which brings me to what I want to say. I think it is fairly interesting from a gender equity standpoint what the different schools are doing regarding facilities and whether women are on equal footing and in what sense. Consider the case of UNC-Chapel Hill. It is my understanding the school spent $40 million on the recent renovation of Carmichael Auditorium, now called Carmichael Arena. The women ballers, and I assume the volleyball and gymnastics teams, now have a facility of their own and won’t be squeezed out of practice time and such. It’s an on-campus facility and features modern seats, electronics, and presumably many bathrooms. I don’t know the seating capacity. When Michael Jordon played there, I think it was a little smaller than Cameron Indoor Stadium. The men now of course play in the Dean Dome, which seats 20,000 or thereabouts.
Is this fair? Is this separate yet equitable? Which is better: Having your own facility that was modernized and specialized for your needs, or playing in the same facility as the men? What are the other considerations? Is one more favorable for recruiting? Television? Cost efficiencies? As Biff points out, in the case of the Orange women, there might not be a choice. But if you are an AD looking to do something, or are a promoter of gender equity, what should you do?
What say you, ‘yarders?
