Today marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX — the landmark U.S. legislation which gave female athletes the right to equal opportunity in sports. So, today’s special edition is all about the history of the law, the progress that’s been made and the work that lies ahead in order to level the playing field. Grab some cake — it’s time to celebrate.
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We had no idea how bad the situation really was — we didn’t even use the word sex discrimination back then — and we certainly had no sense of the revolution we were about to start.
— Dr. Bernice Sandler, who is known as the “Godmother of Title IX” for her work drafting the legislation and fighting for women’s rights in education. The revolution continues.
The opportunities for women to compete in sports prior to Title IX were severely limited — the NCAA offered no scholarships for women and did not host championships in women’s sports prior to the legislation.
Luckily, Representative Patsy T. Mink set out to change that. The first woman of color elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Mink was the primary sponsor of Title IX, which she authored in response to adversity she faced during her own education.
And it’s no surprise that female athletes were also pivotal in passing Title IX. One of those trailblazers? Tennis legend Billie Jean King (BJK). After advocating for gender equity in sports throughout the 1960s and 70s, BJK took to Capitol Hill to testify on behalf of Title IX in 1972. Bow down.
Title IX’s just 37 words — “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from partcipation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance” — but that text truly changed it all. So, what does the language cover exactly?
Title IX protections can also notably extend beyond the playing surface. While the way the law is interpreted shifts with political power, in 2011, the Department of Education (DoED) issued a “Dear Colleague” letter clarifying that the legislation protects all students against sexual harassment and violence.
There’ve been plenty of pivotal moments in women’s sports since Title IX was enacted. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane with a look at a few, shall we?
🏀 Overcoming hurdles on the hardwood: One disparity Title IX helped to overcome was the difference in scholarships for men’s and women’s sports. Basketball player Ann Meyers busted down that wall in 1974 when she became the first woman to receive a four-year athletic scholarship at UCLA.
🏆 They are the champions: Nine years after Title IX was passed, the NCAA finally established Division I women’s national championships in January 1981 — the first champs in cross country, field hockey, volleyball, swimming, basketball, golf, gymnastics, tennis and softball were crowned that year. Time to queue up Queen.
⚽️ Kicking out disparities: The world felt the impact of Title IX when FIFA staged the first-ever women’s World Cup in 1991 (over 60 years after the first men’s). But it was well worth the wait — the USWNT hoisted that inaugural trophy, competing with a squad composed of NCAA stars. The rest is history.
2.6: As in 2.6 million, the number of girls who are now participating in high school sports, compared to just 295K in 1972. Grow the game, baby.
15.7: The percentage of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals that women’s basketball accounts for, good for third overall behind football and men’s basketball. Plus, women’s sports round out the next three spots, with volleyball, softball and swimming and diving athletes pulling in some serious dough.
94: The percentage of female C-suite executives who played sports growing up. What’s more, nearly half competed in college sports, too.
10,586: The number of women’s teams competing at the NCAA level across Divisions I, II and III, an all-time high reached in 2018.
216,890: The number of people who attended first- and second-round games at the most recent women’s March Madness tournament, setting an all-time attendance record. The high also came along with more record-setting crowds (and viewership numbers!) in volleyball, gymnastics and softball. But no one watches women’s sports, right?
Today’s anniversary is certainly celebration-worthy, but it’s also a time to recommit to the work that lies ahead. While there’s been plenty of progress, many problems persist in women’s sports, especially at the high school and collegiate level.
Another issue area? Schools eluding Title IX compliance. Numerous NCAA women’s programs were cut during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing attention to an oft-ignored problem — it’s estimated that more than half of all Division I schools do not follow the law.
Course Correction: A Story of Rowing and Resilience in the Wake of Title IX, a memoir authored by Seattle Storm co-owner Ginny Gilder. An Olympic silver medalist, Gilder tells the story of how she found herself through rowing, set against the backdrop of game-changing Title IX legislation.
Battle of the Sexes, the film depicting BJK’s legendary 1973 match vs. self-described male chauvinist and one-time men’s world No. 1 Bobby Riggs. King’s victory, just one year after the passage of Title IX, was another crucial moment in the fight for equality in sports. Plus, Emma Stone as King and Steve Carrell as Riggs are essential viewing.
A few of our favorite outlets covering women’s sports, because the gender equity gap persists in journalism, where women’s sports receive just 4% of all coverage. Shoutout to our pals at Just Women’s Sports, HighlightHER, On Her Turf, Power Plays, The IX and many more who are working to change that.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post.
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