June 23, 2025 marks the 53rd anniversary of Title IX, the groundbreaking civil rights law that reshaped American education by prohibiting sex-based discrimination in any federally funded school or program. Enacted in 1972, Title IX opened doors to classrooms, athletics, and leadership opportunities for millions of women and girls, transforming what equality in education could mean. Before the law, many women were denied admission to colleges, limited in what they could study, and excluded from nearly all competitive sports. Since then, Title IX has helped pave the way for generational progress in education, sports, and civil rights. As Ms. magazine puts it, “Title IX is not just about sports, it is about power, equity, and access.”
Title IX has touched the lives of millions of students. It has helped young women play sports, apply to schools that once excluded them, and speak up when their rights were violated. For many, it quietly shaped what they believed was possible. Girls could picture themselves on a basketball court, in a science lab, or leading a student government, not because someone told them they could, but because the law helped remove the barriers that said they could not. Journalist and historian Sherry Boschert, who wrote a book about the law’s legacy called 37 Words, described it simply: “Title IX opened doors that had been closed to half the population.” That legacy is still unfolding. Each time a student feels seen, heard, and protected in their education, the spirit of Title IX is at work.
Title IX did not emerge overnight; it was the result of years of activism led by women who were systematically denied access to education and professional opportunities. “Title IX was the culmination of a long campaign by second-wave feminists who had spent years documenting educational disparities and organizing for gender equity,” writes the Women’s Sports Foundation. Bernice Sandler, who had been denied a full-time university position for being “too strong for a woman,” became a pivotal figure by filing over 250 complaints against colleges and universities, prompting the first congressional hearings on sex discrimination in education. Working closely with Rep. Edith Green and Rep. Patsy Mink, Sandler helped lay the foundation for the legislation that would become Title IX. According to National Geographic, these women faced not only bureaucratic obstacles but also cultural resistance, as they navigated an overwhelmingly male political system to push forward an idea that was seen as radical at the time.
Although Title IX became law in 1972, its impact was far from immediate. Implementation was slow, met with confusion, and often outright resistance. Schools claimed the law was too vague or too disruptive to enforce. In athletics, critics argued that expanding opportunities for girls would unfairly take resources from boys’ sports. But advocates pushed back, demanding that the federal government issue clear guidelines and hold institutions accountable. It wasn’t until 1975 that the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare issued regulations to enforce Title IX, and even then, some schools dragged their feet. It took lawsuits, media attention, and sustained pressure from grassroots groups to compel change. Ms. magazine’s Triumphs of Title IX report documents how early Title IX activists used data, testimonies, and strategic lobbying to make the case that denying equal access to sports and education violated civil rights. Their work helped push Title IX from symbolic legislation into a transformative force for generations of students.
Over the past few years, the protections guaranteed by Title IX have been weakened by a series of federal rollbacks, starting with changes enacted under the Trump administration. In 2020, then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos implemented sweeping revisions to Title IX that narrowed the definition of sexual harassment and forced schools to hold live disciplinary hearings, including cross-examinations between accused students and survivors, which is a policy widely criticized for re-traumatizing those who came forward with complaints. The regulations also limited the scope of cases schools were required to investigate, excluding incidents that occurred off campus or outside school programs. Women, particularly those at colleges with a history of underreporting or mishandling sexual assault, were left more vulnerable and often discouraged from seeking justice.
While the Biden administration introduced rules in 2024 to restore protections for survivors and explicitly extend Title IX to LGBTQ+ students, those efforts were abruptly blocked in January 2025, when a federal judge vacated the new rules nationwide. This decision removed clear federal guidance on how schools should respond to sexual harassment and discrimination, creating a patchwork of policies across states. LGBTQ+ students were left without basic civil rights protections, while female students again found themselves in environments where reporting harassment could lead to retraumatization, legal hurdles, or dismissal.
The future of Title IX rests in the hands of those who refuse to accept regression as inevitable. While its legal protections may be tested, its enduring power lies in the belief that education should offer fairness, safety, and opportunity to all. This belief has guided decades of advocacy, carried forward by those who challenged silence with testimony and inaction with organizing. Title IX remains a living commitment, and its strength depends on our willingness to uphold it.