Title IX’s 36th Anniversary: Time to Celebrate, and To Keep on Working

Posted July 3, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Martinique Haller

Section: Her Fitness, Athletics, Her News

We’re a couple days past the actual anniversary date, but still close enough to observe that title IX is now thirty-six years old.  In June of 1972, the Title IX Education Amendment was passed and its passing has likely had a profound affect on many of the readers of Her Active Life. Title IX made discrimination illegal in college and high school athletics (and elsewhere in the educational system; in academics for example).

According to a 2006 article in Facts on File* , “When Title IX was passed in 1972, fewer than 300,000 girls participated in high school sports. Today, that number has swelled to 2.7 million.” I was born just a few years after the passing of Title IX, and I am certain that the provisions of that amendment helped create the many opportunities I had to participate in high school sports. I attended a small high school, and as a result had the opportunity to play many sports. Tennis was my mainstay, but I tried my hand at volleyball, softball, and cross-country skiing as well. My high school, and the surrounding town were dominated by the drama and excitement of the boys’ football and basketball teams; they were the whole town’s Friday night entertainment.  Without something like Title IX, people may not have seen a need to create an opportunity for girls to experiment in athletics in an environment where we were all focused on the boys.

The life lessons all children learn by playing sports is invaluable. They learn how to be a part of a team, how to set goals, how to be a gracious loser (we hope), and how to enjoy and appreciate their bodies.  It’s just as important for girls to learn these lessons as it is for boys, especially with the self esteem crisis so many of them suffer in their teen-aged years.

People are still clamoring for Title IX to be enforced. Nancy Gruver of Feministe says “While there’s been resistance to Title IX in many educational institutions, the NCAA has become a strong supporter of Title IX under the leadership of Myles Brand. When the Bush administration mounted a full court press in 2003-05 to weaken Title IX, the NCAA joined the Women’s Sports Foundation and many others to successfully defend Title IX.”

Similarly, Feminist Daily News says “The 2007 report from the National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education notes that “Title IX is under attack from critics who claim that there is a ‘boys’ crisis.” Yet, “studies show that girls’ gains have not come at boys’ expense.” Moreover, in 2006 the Department of Education further weakened Title IX by allowing more sex-segregated education in public schools. These changes have been challenged by the ACLU in recent lawsuits.”

I am thankful for the gains Title IX has created. I’m also grateful that there are people keeping the pressure on to make sure the spirit of Title IX is reinforced so that both boys and girls can experience the joys of athletics, in the hopes of becoming athletic, fit, healthy adults.

*"Update: Title IX.” Issues & Controversies On File 14 Dec. 2006. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services. 27 June 2008 .