Before 1973, close to no one thought that there would be a law allowing women to compete in an area that had before been almost completely reserved for men. But, somehow, that all changed. In 1973 a law, or more specifically an amendment to a law, was passed called Title IX, which became one of the most important milestones in women’s rights. However, despite all that it has done, the law is not perfect and enforcement of it can be improved.
Title IX itself “is the landmark law that bans sex discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities” (“A Pregnancy Test for Schools” 1). Before this amendment was added to the Higher Education Act of 1965 in 1972, women’s athletic programs in both high school and college were near nonexistent. One of the people who first proposed this amendment was inspired to do so after learning that his wife had been rejected from the University of Virginia solely because of the fact that she was a woman.
The law is supposedly enforced using a three-pronged test, which states three requirements for complying with the law. Schools must meet one of the requirements, which are: Having an equal or proportional ratio of men and women playing sports, showing a history of expanding programs for females, or having not too big of a gap in funding for scholarships.
There have been challenges to the legality of Title IX, but they have all been struck down. In 1974, a proposition to exempt revenue-producing sports such as football and basketball from the law was proposed, but it was rejected because it could have hurt the impact of Title IX greatly. Later, during the second Bush administration, some officials tried to use a survey gauging females’ interest in sports as a way to evade Title IX. Th...
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...titutions is astonishing, and it is crucial for people to know that Title IX has not completely done its job just yet.
There is a reason that Title IX was passed: To give women equal rights in the fields of sports, academics, and simple civil rights, and to allow the other sex the chance to experience athletics, as for both men and women, sports participation builds character and trains young people to become resilient and hard-working later in life. This is why Title IX mattered and still matters today: It mattered then because without it there would have been none of the great moments in American women’s sports history, such as our women dominating the 2012 Olympics or Billie Jean King beating a man who claimed women could not and should not play…. and it still matters today because in all the fields that it covers, its job is still yet to be completely done.
McAndrews, Patrick J. "Keeping Score: How Universities Can Comply With Title IX Without Eliminating Men's Collegiate Athletic Programs." Brigham Young University Education & Law Journal 1 (2012): 111-140. Academic Search Premier. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.
Great inequalities in the educational system between the sexes have occurred for many years and still occur today. Efforts have been made to rectify this disparity, but the one that has made the most difference is Title IX. Passed in 1972, Title IX attempted to correct the gender discrimination in educational systems receiving public funding. The greatest correction it made was in the area of athletics, but social justice of Title IX applies to many other areas as well. Title IX has an effect on women who are not athletes in many ways, including quality of education, receptivity to education, empowerment and creation of ideals.
Title IX is a federal law that states “No person in the United States shall, 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.” Summing that up, Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in education. Title IX has banned sex discrimination in schools since 1972. Title IX is best known for parceling obstacles in sports for women and girls, it also ameliorates for girls to pursue math and science, requires fair treatment for pregnant and parenting students, and protects students from bullying and sexual harassment, among other things. Title IX applies to all educational institutions. Both public and private,
Title IX is a law that was made by the NCAA in 1972, that states that there can be no discrimination or exclusion of a gender through athletics or education. (Mankiller). Which means that men's sports cannot be favored over women's sports. Many people are very cognizant of this law. For example, if a school has $100,000, the school must spend the money equally between the athletics of each gender, even if there are more men's sports teams. They must get the same treatment. That may sound great, but Title IX has impacted men's athletics significantly. Although Title IX has been a valuable way to establish gender equality, the NCAA loses money, puts men out of scholarships, abolishes smaller men’s sports teams, and it should be
Title IX has affected females’ access to higher education in so many ways. Before Title
Although Title IX states than, "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 any discrimination..." it does not guarantee that people will carry this out. After the issuing of Title IX, many women in sports wished to step forward and be recognized. Part of the recognition they wanted was to be included in National Sports Associations like the men's National Basketball Association. Eventually their cries were heard, and sports associations like the NBA agreed to merge and include women. Becoming included was an eye opening experience to many of these women and they have faced (and still do) doubts and discrimination from the public, but along the way they have also reaped benefits they would not have if the merger had never taken place.
The Supreme Court resolved the issue of uncertainty in Grove City vs Bell, by determining that Title IX only applied to the particular departments receiving federal financial assistance, and not to the entire intuition (U.S Department of Education,2000). The ruling was based on the fact that Title IX did not distinguish between direct institutional assistance and aid received by the school through its students. Although few athletic departments receiving federal funds directly, this ruling made it possible for almost every university’s athletic program to fall short of compiling with the laws of Title IX. Cohen v. Brown University is the most significant hard fought case involving the first prong of Title IX “proportionality”. Brown University eliminated two men’s teams (water polo, golf) and two women’s teams (gymnastics, volleyball) from the universities donor funded varsity status (Stevens, 2004). Female students sued Brown University claiming that the University had violated their rights under Title IX by eliminating these two sports. The plaintiffs also argued that Brown did not make a sufficient reduction in men’s sports or add another women’s team to compensate before eliminating the two women’s programs. The court found that the universities student population and athletic compensation were not equally
Salant, Jonathan D. “NCAA president opposes changes to Title IX anti-discrimination law.” Washington Dateline 4 Mar. 2003: Sports 1.
As for the University of Hawaii, I feel that we are making positive strides in the right direction in adding female sports to the athletic program. The latest addition to be added to the program is a women’s track team. Although Title IX has made it possible in opening opportunities for women, I think that law makers need to look into having the University of Hawaii exempt, to some degree, as far as being compliant with Title IX. If equality is what law makers are striving for than, because of UH’s geographical position, it’s not fair that the athletic program alone would have to generate twice as much money compared to the mainland schools, just to stay afloat. Not even to be competitive! How close are we really to achieving “equality” or is there even such a word like that in college sports?
Despite legislation for equal opportunities, sexism is still evident in the workplace. Women have made great advancements in the workforce and have become an integral part of the labor market. They have greater access to higher education and as a result, greater access to traditionally male dominated professions such as law. While statistics show that women are equal to men in terms of their numbers in the law profession, it is clear however, that they have not yet achieved equality in all other areas of their employment. Discrimination in the form of gender, sex and sexual harassment continues to be a problem in today’s society.
Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments to the Civil Rights Act and the Women’s Educational Equity Act of 1974 prohibited discrimination against women in federally aided education programs. In 1975, Congress passed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, which improved opportunities for a group of children who had previously lacked full access to a quality education.
These amendments ensure that everyone who wants an education is treated equally, no matter what race or gender, to create opportunities for everyone. Most important of those amendments is Title IX. 1. What is the difference between a. and a. It states that; “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of gender, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Title IX applies to all educational institutions, both public and private, that receive federal funds.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 states that, “No person in the United States shall, 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.” (“Title IX and Sex Discrimination”) Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities which receive Federal financial assistance. This had a significant impact on women’s sports on all levels. “These programs and activities may include, but are not limited to: admissions, recruitment, financial aid, academic programs, student treatment and services, counseling and guidance, discipline, classroom assignment, grading, vocational education, recreation, physical education, athletics, housing and employment.” (“Title IX and Sex Discrimination”) If any person wants to file a complaint of an alleged discrimination, they must go to the Office for Civil Right within 180 days of the incident.
“Title IX is a law passed in 1972 that requires gender equity for boys and girls in every educational program that receives federal funding” (“History”, Part. 2). Title IX covers 10 different aspects of gender equality (“History” Par. 3 ). The different aspects are: Access to Higher Education, Career Education, Education for Pregnant and Parenting Students, Employment, Learning Environment, Math and Science, Standardized Testing and Technology, Sexual Harassment. One of the hardest areas to regulate is sexual harassment and assault because once it occurs there isn’t a lot you can do for the victim.
Over two decades have passed since the enactment of Title IX, a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded education, including athletics. As a result of Title IX, women and girls have benefited from more athletic participation opportunities and more equitable facilities. Because of Title IX, more women have received athletic scholarships and thus opportunities for higher education that some may not have been able to afford otherwise. In addition, because of Title IX the salaries of coaches for women's teams have increased. Despite the obstacles women face in athletics, many women have led and are leading the way to gender equity.