Public Opinion, Crisis, and Vulnerable Populations: The Case of Title IX and COVID-19

James N Druckman,Elizabeth A Sharrow

doi:10.1017/s1743923x20000446

James N Druckman, Elizabeth A Sharrow

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1017/s1743923x20000446

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Journal: Politics & Gender	Publication Date: Jul 9, 2020
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Massachusetts Amherst

Abstract

AbstractA central function of democratic institutions is to protect vulnerable populations. The stability and success of these institutions depends, in part, on popular support. Times of crisis can introduce novel dynamics that alter popular support for protective institutions, particularly among those who do not benefit from those protections. We explore this possibility in the context of Title IX's gender equality requirements and infrastructure to address sexual harassment in college sports. We conduct a large survey of college student-athletes to study their attitudes on these issues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and concomitant financial challenges affecting college sports. We find that male student-athletes and those with sexist attitudes exhibit alarmingly low levels of support for ensuring the maintenance of equality and sexual harassment policy under Title IX during the COVID-19 crisis and eventual recovery. The results accentuate the vulnerability of certain populations during crises and the importance of maintaining strong institutional policy support during such times.

Highlights

A central function of democratic institutions is to protect vulnerable populations
H1: Support for Title IX’s gender equality requirements and sexual harassment policy will be significantly higher in the abstract than it is in response to the COVID-19 crisis
We find middling levels of support for protecting equality and sexual harassment provisions when respondents were asked about each during the COVID-19 pandemic, with respective mean scores on the 5-point scales of 2.98 (SD = .90), and 3.02 (.84)

Summary

Introduction

A central function of democratic institutions is to protect vulnerable populations. The stability and success of these institutions depends, in part, on popular support. These types of government protections often garner widespread public support, and when asked about Title IX in general, the public and those in college athletics express strong policy support (Druckman, Rothschild, and Sharrow 2018; Women’s Sports Foundation 2017).

Results

Conclusion