Final answer:
Title IX requires women's intercollegiate athletic teams to have equal opportunities and treatment as men's teams in terms of participation, funding, and resources at educational institutions receiving federal aid.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the most common application of Title IX, participation on women's intercollegiate athletics teams should receive equal opportunities compared to men's teams. Title IX, a federal statute that became law in 1972, mandates that no person in the United States, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. This law has been a significant factor in promoting gender equity in sports, ensuring that women's athletic programs are given fair treatment in terms of resources, funding, and opportunities in colleges and universities that receive federal aid.
Although gender discrimination in education has been banned, challenges persist, as highlighted by notable disparities in areas such as facilities and resources between men's and women's athletics. Despite the law, some critics argue that Title IX pushes funds to women's sports at the potential expense of men's programs, yet defenders point out that women's sports often still receive less funding than certain men's sports, like basketball or football at many universities.