The Legacy of Title IX
The Boston Globe
Anita F. Hill
November 12, 2007
Title IX, enacted in 1972, simply aimed to prevent gender discrimination in any education “program or activity,” but it started an unexpected sports revolution. Nearly 10 times as many high school girls play sports today than played before the law was implemented. Girls who play sports report having more self-confidence and being healthier and more goal-oriented as a result. Although this law is unique in its strong bipartisan support, it still has critics, and some who argue that Title IX hurts men. Opponents of the law seem to ignore the fact that multiple studies show both men’s and women’s collegiate athletic participation increasing since 1972. Moreover, these critics overlook the many school administrators who, as Nan Stein of the Wellesley Centers for Women describes, still don’t believe that Title IX applies to their institutions. So while Title IX’s achievements for girls in athletics are worth celebrating, the struggle for equality is ongoing, and the law’s continued enforcement is crucial to its success.
The full article is available here.
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