WASHINGTON – As the nation marks the 36th anniversary of Title IX, AAUW remains committed to strengthening the landmark legislation despite ongoing efforts aimed at weakening it. Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities, and it has been opening doors for women and girls since it was signed into law by President Nixon on June 23, 1972.
"The 2008 Olympics will once again showcase the impact of Title IX, as incredible female athletes compete at the highest level," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. "Although many of these women grew up with sports opportunities their mothers couldn't have imagined, there is still more work to be done."
AAUW was instrumental in the passage of Title IX and continues to advocate for strengthening its protections. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was co-authored by Rep. Patsy Mink (D-HI), an AAUW member.
Two bills, the High School Athletics Accountability Act (H.R. 901) and the High School Information Collection Act (S. 518), would do just that. These bills would make participation rates and expenditures for high school athletes available to the public, helping communities better enforce Title IX.
"Having access to this data is a first step toward improving Title IX athletic compliance at the high school level. It will give even more girls a fair chance to play," said Lisa Maatz, AAUW director of public policy and government relations. "This information should be easily available to the public; it would shed a light on where schools are doing well and where they need improvement."
Despite the growth of female athletic participation since Title IX's passage, the gap in opportunities between boys and girls at the high school level has widened from 1.13 million five years ago to 1.3 million today. Although girls make up half of the high school population, they receive only 41 percent of all athletic participation opportunities.
In addition, critics have sought to undermine the protections already in place. Recent Title IX controversies have revolved around college athletic opportunities and the alleged "boys' crisis," a myth that was debunked in AAUW’s latest research report, Where the Girls Are: The Facts About Gender Equity in Education. This comprehensive study of educational achievement over the past 35 years found that girls’ academic success does not come at the expense of boys. In fact, the educational achievement of both girls and boys increased during this time.
"As women continue to make gains in education and the workplace, these successes do not come at the expense of men," Hallman said. "This insidious implication is at the heart of the assaults on Title IX that fuel the so-called boys’ crisis."
While Title IX has brought attention to the lack of women's athletic opportunities, many people do not realize the extent to which the law can remove barriers to women in all aspects of education. Title IX also plays a vital role in increasing gender equity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
"For decades AAUW has supported innovative, community-based STEM programs for girls and young women, first through our and now through our National Girls Collaborative Project. Title IX remains a critical tool as we continue to break down barriers to nontraditional careers and to improve the campus climate so women can flourish in these fields," Hallman said.
