Finally, Pay Equity in Big-Time Women’s College Basketball? A Kitagawa-Blinder-Oaxaca Decomposition

Author
Willis Jones – University of South Florida

Abstract
Despite growing recognition and attempts to remedy the problem, pay inequality continues to plague American higher education. In college sports, this problem is especially pronounced. Media reports and some empirical research has noted significant across-sport and within-sport gender/sex differences in coaches’ pay. This study looked to complement previous research by examining whether male and female women’s basketball head coaches at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I universities competing in autonomous five conferences are paid equally. The findings show some evidence of sex discrimination in base pay, but total compensation for male and female coaches was statistically equal. Potential explanations for these findings are offered as well as suggestions for future research.

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