Before the ________, few youth sport programs offered competitive sport opportunities for girls, as they did for boys, because parents and peers did not encourage girls to develop their sport skills.

• A. 1960s
• B. 1980s
• C. 1970s
• D. 1990s

Answer: (C)

This item tests how policy shifts and social attitudes influence girls’ access to competitive youth sport. Historically, girls had far fewer competitive opportunities than boys because norms about gender roles and a lack of supportive policies limited encouragement and resources for girls to develop sport skills. The 1970s mark the turning point, especially with Title IX in 1972, which barred sex discrimination in education and athletics and prompted schools to create more girls’ teams and competitive programs. This shift is why opportunities for girls began expanding during and after that decade, making the 1970s the period just before those gains accelerated. Later decades continued to build on that progress, but the key change starts in the 1970s.