Date

9-17-2026

Department

School of Education

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)

Chair

Alex Oldham

Keywords

Title IX, noncompliance, power dynamics, policy reform, gender equity, college sports

Disciplines

Health and Physical Education

Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand experiences with power dynamics and Title IX noncompliance for female college athletes at public and private colleges and universities across the United States. At this stage in the research, lived experiences about power dynamics were generally defined as the lived experiences of female college athletes as they navigated the power structures, Title IX noncompliance, and policies within their athletic programs. The theory guiding this study was Critical Policy Analysis as it emphasized the social context in which policies are created by considering Title IX’s implications on women in college sports. The Central Research Question was, “What are the perceptions and lived experiences of female college athletes concerning power dynamics and Title IX noncompliance within their sports programs?” This study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological approach guided by van Manen’s methodology. The sample included female college athletes selected through random and snowball sampling from multiple NCAA colleges across the United States. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and photo analysis. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Five themes emerged from the data: Coach-Athlete Power Dynamics, Athlete Voice and Communication Pathways, Gender Recognition and Institutional Prioritization, Awareness and Experiences with Title IX Compliance, and Psychological and Performance Impacts of Program Dynamics.

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