V is for Victory. So is IX.

I have written on several occasions about Title IX, the 1972 US legislation that among other things, mandated equal resources for both boys and girls sports in public schools:

Title IX is the portion of the Education Amendments of 1972 that prohibits sex

discrimination in educational institutions that receive any federal funds. In brief,

Title IX 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 educational program or activity receiving

Federal financial assistance.

Title IX applies to any educational program at an institution that receives any

federal funds — the majority of schools in this country, from elementary schools

through colleges. Almost all private colleges, for example, are covered because

they receive federal funding through financial aid programs such as Pell grants.

Athletic associations may also be covered under Title IX if they receive federal

funds.


If educational institutions are found to violate Title IX, their federal funding can be

withdrawn. In all cases to date, however, institutions found to violate Title IX have

agreed to specific plans to comply with the law rather than lose funding. An

institution’s agreement to specific plans does not ensure that it will fulfill them.

Therefore, after such agreements are made, citizens must continue to monitor Title

IX compliance.

Title IX is not just a “sports” law. It also covers sexual harassment, academic

discrimination and workplace discrimination against students, employees and faculty

at educational institutions. Title IX prohibits unequal educational opportunities throughout
the entire educational environment.

Since the enactment of Title IX, female participation in high school sports has increased by over 900% and college athletic participation by women has increased nearly 500%!

Now, The Women’s Sports Foundation, along with the ACLU, the California Women’s Law Center and the Women’s Law Project have launched a campaign to increase awareness of the continuing disparity in public schools between girl’s and boy’s sports.

Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974 the Women’s Sports Foundation’s mission is “to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity.”  The organization has launched it’s campaign for Title IX awareness through its website and through grassroots outreach on it’s girls sports site, GoGirlWorld.org.

Parents interested in ensuring that their daughters have the same opportunities in sport as do their sons can visit the Women’s Sports Foundation website to learn more. But I especially recommend that fathers check out the site, and especially the essay A Grandfather’s Take on Women’s Sports.

It seems incredible that 36 years later we are still fighting this battle, but there you have it.  

See an explanatory white paper on Title IX.

See how your state deals with the legislation.

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