Title IX: Fact Sheet Equitable Treatment of Girls and Women 2012 in School Athletic Programs

On June 23, 1972, Title IX became law, enacted as part of the Education Amendments. It was a beacon of hope for a future of equality, providing women with a solid legal protection from discrimination in schools, whether it be in academics or athletics. Most people

associate Title IX with sports, but its equality gain in education are notable as well. Aside Title IX, the 37– word statute that bans sex from athletics, Title IX also addresses issues such as, access to higher education, career discrimination in any education, education for pregnant and parenting students, employment, learning federally funded education environment, math and science, sexual harassment, standardized testing and technology. program, turned 40 on However, Title IX is most recognized for its huge impact and well-known controversy in the June 23, 2012. overall equity of treatment and opportunity in athletics for women and girls.

Title IX is best known for Edith Starrett Green creating more opportunities for women and girls to Edith Green left a substantial legacy, leaving play sports. However, her mark on almost every Title IX does not only education bill enacted. One apply to athletics. of Green’s most enduring

legislative triumphs was

Title IX, part of the 1972

Higher Education Act. As

chair of the Subcommittee

on Higher Education of the “Women now make up the Education and Labor Committee, Green majority of students in America’s colleges and universities in presided over seven days of hearings in which addition to making up the a wide range of witnesses explained the majority of recipients of master’s numerous ways women faced discrimination Since Title IX, the number of degrees. Indeed, the has male and female student in postsecondary education. become a world leader in giving women the athletes has greatly opportunity to receive a higher education.” increased. Patsy T. Mink - From the introduction to Title IX: 25 Sources : Years of Progress, A Report of The U.S.

http://www.aahperd.org/nagws/ As the first woman of programs/titleix/upload/Quick-Facts- Department of Education, June 1997. Title-IX.pdf http:// color and the first www.womenssportsfoundation.org/ home/she-network/education/patsy- Asian American mink http://womenincongress.house.gov/ woman elected to Barbara Jo Palmer member-profiles/profile.html? intID=92 Barbara Jo Palmer, a pioneer in the http://sports.jrank.org/pages/3245/ Congress, she battled Miller-Shannon-An-Energetic- development of programs Child.html">Shannon Miller - A gender discrimination Energetic Child from the very start. for female athletes has Florida After not being been nationally recognized Commission allowed to play full court, because her for her efforts to establish on the Status of high school believed that it would be too equity in sports for arduous for girls, twelve letters of women. In 1977, Palmer Women Office of the rejection (she believes to because of her became FSU’s Director of Attorney General gender), and denied a job at a law firm Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics and under The Capitol, PL-01 her leadership, FSU women won five national Tallahassee, FL because she was a married woman, Mink 32399-1050 was one of the principal authors of Title championships and 226 All-American Phone: awards. Palmer was also chosen for the (850) 414-3300 IX, which was later renamed the Patsy T. Fax: (850) 921-4131 Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Florida Women’s Hall of Fame in 1982 for www.fcsw.net Act, after her death in 2002. her lobbying work on Title IX.

Title IX: Fact Sheet Equitable Treatment of Girls and Women 2012 in School Athletic Programs

Dr. Dot Richardson

Dr. Richardson played a key part “When I was a growing up, I wanted to be an in the United States national astronaut, a singer, an actress and a doctor. I took team that won the gold medal ballet and tap dance, and I loved to play outdoors “Too many girls and women during the Sport’s Olympic debut with my brothers. I ran after rabbits, raced trucks, still confront ‘No climbed trees and caught balls. I shared a frustration Trespassing’ signs in 1996, hitting a that with many girls my age that also loved sports but

throughout education won the game. Richardson couldn’t find a girls’ team anywhere. For a young girl became the first woman to a at that time, the only way you could play is if a boys’ institutions. Women remain underrepresented in critical home run in the Olympics, team let you. One day while I was helping my brother warm up before his Little League baseball game, his areas such as math and capturing the first ever Olympic coach saw me playing and asked if I wanted to play on science. Colleges and gold medal in the sport of the team. I really wanted to, but there was a universities continue to give . Today she is the Director catch. I’d have to cut my hair short, and be called, short shift to women’s “Bob.” Although I really wanted to play, I was not and Medical Director for the USA athletics, spending the lion’s brought up to do something like that. I smiled and Center for Sports and Health in share of money on men’s politely declined.” ~ Dr. Dot Richardson Clermont, Florida. programming. Scoring gaps persist in standardized Shannon Miller Commissioner Miller was appointed testing, limiting women’s to the Florida Commission on the “Title IX has allowed a generation of women to access to educational Status of Women in 2012 by institutions, financial aid, become more confident and self-assured due to the ability to participate more fully in sports. Commissioner of Agriculture Adam and careers. Non-traditional These benefits are seen in board rooms, Putnam. Commissioner Miller is the job training programs leading classrooms and living rooms across our Nation. most decorated American gymnast, to high-skill, high -wage jobs We have built stronger lives and stronger are still hostile places for communities as a result. Title IX helps young male or female, in history. She is the women, whereSource: they confront women dare to dream.” only American to rank among the http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voterthe most severe forms of ~ Shannon Miller Top 10 All-time Gymnasts and is the harassment.-registration/index.shtml Few women, only female athlete to be inducted particularly women of color, into the U.S. Olympics Hall of Fame, have broken the glass ceiling twice! Today, Commissioner Miller that keeps the top ranks of is the President of Shannon Miller positions in colleges and Lifestyle: Health & Fitness for universities primarily the Women which dedicates to helping preserve of men...We owe it women make health a priority. to our daughters to improve our performance on Title IX by removing these obstacles.”

-From the introduction to Report Card on Gender Equality, A Report of the National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education, June 1997.

Florida Commission on the Status of

Women Dara Grace Torres Chris Evert Althea Gibson 1999 Florida Women’s Hall of Office of the 2009/2010 Florida Women’s Hall of 2000 Florida Women’s Hall of Fame Member Attorney General Fame Member Fame Member The Capitol, PL-01 Althea was the first African- Dara has competed in 5 Chris was ranked as the number one Tallahassee, FL American woman to achieve major and has won 12 medals in her Olympic tennis player in the world for seven 32399-1050 athletic fame, and the world’s first career. At the age of 14 she entered her years. She was the first player to win Phone: woman of color to compete and first international swimming competition 1,000 singles matches and won 18 Grand (850) 414-3300 win, at England’s Wimbledon. Fax: (850) 921-4131 and competed in her first Olympics in slam titles. www.fcsw.net 1984. A special thanks to FCSW Research Specialist, Veronica Vasquez, for her assistance in creating this report.