In honor of the 35th anniversary of Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments on Saturday, June 23, the US House and Senate passed last week identical resolutions to celebrate the achievements of this landmark law. The resolution highlighted the success and role of Title IX in increasing opportunities for women and girls in all areas of education.
The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) commissioned a national survey of 1,000 adults to gauge support for Title IX three-and-a-half decades after its passage. The poll shows overwhelming support — with 82 percent in favor of preserving Title IX and 88 percent in favor of girls or their parents utilizing Title IX to legally challenge disparities of treatment of boys and girls. Still, a recently release report by the NWLC shows that discrimination and unfair treatment of girls is still widespread, particularly in athletic opportunities.
Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) issued a statement celebrating Title IX, but offered a stark reminder of how much more needs to be accomplished. “While Title IX has been a huge success, the battle for equality is not yet won,” Rep. Maloney stated. “In 2002, women made up 54 percent of college students, but they only comprised 43 percent of college athletes. Meanwhile, men received 36 percent more athletic scholarships than women. Women also receive only 20 percent of computer science and engineering-related technology bachelor’s degrees, and only 39 percent of all full professors at colleges and universities are women.”
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), who co-sponsored the Senate’s resolution along with Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), emphasized the need to actively protect Title IX, saying, “the challenge for all of us, today, is to make sure those doors of opportunity stay open for our granddaughters and great-granddaughters,” according to the Yakima-Herald.
