Category
Theoretical Proposal
Description
The implementation of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies in collegiate athletics has fundamentally transformed how student-athletes can earn income from their sport and build their own brands in ways that were never before available. This shift has created new opportunities for both male and female athletes, but it has also introduced significant disparities between how this money is allocated between males and females. This is largely due to this unprecedented landscape within collegiate athletics in combination with minimal regulations and procedures as outlined by the NCAA. Due to this, universities have begun to navigate how to disperse both direct funding to athletes, as well as other NIL opportunities that are provided through the school.
This new and ever-changing sector within collegiate athletics calls for more thorough research to fully develop the best policies to support student athletes in a representative model. This research seeks to bridge the gap between this need and the current trends and information available regarding NIL by asking the question: How is institutional NIL support associated with reported athlete NIL earnings by gender within Division I programs?
By using both a quantitative and qualitative approach, this study will gather information about direct NIL funding to athletes and surveys to gauge athletes' perceptions of NIL support to get a well-rounded picture of overall support. This approach will be best suited to examine gender-based disparities in NIL opportunities within Division I athletics, with a focus on differences in institutional support and funding. It is important because it elaborates on past findings and brings to light the possible unequal distribution of University NIL funds to male and female collegiate athletes. By identifying the ways in which female athletes may or may not be limited, this research can promote a more equitable model moving forward by providing future research direction.
NIL and Gender Equality in Division 1 Athletics: Integrating Institutional Support, Marketplace Dynamics, and Athlete Earnings¿
Theoretical Proposal
The implementation of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies in collegiate athletics has fundamentally transformed how student-athletes can earn income from their sport and build their own brands in ways that were never before available. This shift has created new opportunities for both male and female athletes, but it has also introduced significant disparities between how this money is allocated between males and females. This is largely due to this unprecedented landscape within collegiate athletics in combination with minimal regulations and procedures as outlined by the NCAA. Due to this, universities have begun to navigate how to disperse both direct funding to athletes, as well as other NIL opportunities that are provided through the school.
This new and ever-changing sector within collegiate athletics calls for more thorough research to fully develop the best policies to support student athletes in a representative model. This research seeks to bridge the gap between this need and the current trends and information available regarding NIL by asking the question: How is institutional NIL support associated with reported athlete NIL earnings by gender within Division I programs?
By using both a quantitative and qualitative approach, this study will gather information about direct NIL funding to athletes and surveys to gauge athletes' perceptions of NIL support to get a well-rounded picture of overall support. This approach will be best suited to examine gender-based disparities in NIL opportunities within Division I athletics, with a focus on differences in institutional support and funding. It is important because it elaborates on past findings and brings to light the possible unequal distribution of University NIL funds to male and female collegiate athletes. By identifying the ways in which female athletes may or may not be limited, this research can promote a more equitable model moving forward by providing future research direction.
