Updated February 21, 2010
Reports released this week solidify the need for Title IX and girl's athletic programs, proving that participation at a young age directly correlates to increased health, education and employment later in life. One study by Dr. Betsy Stevenson finds that since the inception of Title IX, there has been a 20 percent education increase and a 40 percent employment increase in women 25-34 years old. Data by Dr. Robert Kaestner also correlates playing sports as a child with a seven percent decrease in obesity, as well as diabetes and other severe health risks, for women in their 30s and 40s. This information comes simultaneously with First Lady Michelle Obama's Campaign to Improve School Children's Health, which aims to eliminate childhood obesity in the next ten years.
AAUW believes that expansion of athletic opportunities for girls and women must continue at both the high school and college levels, because it is important not only for the participants themselves but for the benefit of the greater community as well. We remain strongly committed to preserving the protections of Title IX and advocate its strong enforcement. AAUW also continues efforts to educate the public about the impact of this landmark civil rights law, and the benefits for the community and the nation when it is implemented appropriately.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for February 19, 2010.
The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ordered the University of California at Davis on Monday to defend itself against sex discrimination charges filed by a group of former wrestlers at the school. The court overturned a 2008 opinion by District Court Judge Frank Damrell Jr. who ruled that the group of female athletes had failed to notify the University that it was being accused of discrimination, and that the University was not given a chance to rectify the situation. The 2007 case was brought after several women were dropped from the team and reinstated only to be forced to compete against men for their spots on the team. The appeals court has challenged the Davis's record of upholding the second prong of Title IX, "a history and continuing practice of program expansion [for women athletes and women's teams]," and sided with the athletes' right to sue the University for discrimination under the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause.
AAUW has supported the plaintiffs since 2005 through the Legal Advocacy Fund (LAF) and will continue to monitor the judicial process in our efforts to prevent and combat sex discrimination and promote gender equity through support of litigation and educational programs. Read more about LAF's work on this case.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for February 12, 2010.
USA Today contributor, Christine Brennan, has a new feature blog focused on girls and women in sports. In her February 9 introductory post, Brennan states, "We welcome female athletes and sports fans -- and their parents, coaches and friends, as well as interested observers from the bleachers to the press box -- to participate in a lively exchange of thoughts and ideas, scores and information, history and advice." She goes on to sing the praises of Title IX, but also notes, "It has now been in effect for nearly 40 years. There's much to discuss. Let's get going." To read other posts on the blog, click here.
AAUW strongly supports Title IX and opposes any efforts that would weaken its effectiveness or undermine its enforcement. AAUW's 2009-2011 Public Policy Program "...advocates vigorous enforcement of Title IX and all other civil rights laws pertaining to education."
Take Action! Urge your members of Congress to enforce Title IX in our high schools with the High School Athletics Accountability Act (H.R. 2882) and the High School Information Collection Act (S. 471).
- from AAUW's Washington Update for February 12, 2010.
On Tuesday, First Lady Michelle Obama laid out her new initiative to combat childhood obesity in the United States, accompanied by a formal memorandum by the president to establish a national taskforce incorporating the departments of the Interior, Health and Human Services, Agriculture and Education. The project, called "Let's Move," focuses on better nutrition information and access to healthy foods, increased physical activity and personal responsibility.
While it is estimated that female students receive 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play high school sports than do male students, the U.S. Department of Education does not require high schools to make athletic opportunity, participation, and funding statistics publicly available, even though they already collect this data. Colleges are required to report this data, it's time our high schools are too.
Take Action! Support girls who want to play high school sports and encourage an equal playing field. It's time we know the score of Title IX in America's high schools. Urge your senators to cosponsor the High School Sports Information Collection Act! Click here, enter your zip code and click "Go!" Then follow the instructions to compose and send your message.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for February 12, 2010.
The parents of a 15-year-old gay student in upstate New York are suing their school district for not providing their son protection from sex stereotyping and discrimination required by law under Title IX. After knife threats, taunts of lynching and harassment from both students and teachers, the family finally filed suit when the boy suffered a sprained ankle from being pushed down the stairs. Many are hopeful that past Title IX court decisions, combined with the Civil Rights Division's request to intervene on behalf of the family, will expand Title IX to include sexual orientation as a part of sex stereotyping.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for February 5, 2010.
According to the Associated Press, a settlement agreement was reached last week in the Title IX discrimination suit against the Florida High School Athletic Association. Under the settlement, the association will pay $41,200 in legal fees, agree to notify the parents in writing two weeks before any proposed changes to an amendment that involves sports scheduling cuts, and provide Title IX training. A group of parents, headed by former Olympic swimmer and AAUW member Nancy Hogshead-Makar, filed the suit in June after schedule changes made cut the number of varsity games by 20 percent and all other play by 40 percent, with the exception of football and competitive cheerleading. Parents claimed that this unfairly hurt female student athletes in violation of Title IX. AAUW is an avid supporter of Title IX and promotes enforcement of all civil rights law relevant to education. For more information, read our position paper on Title IX and see our new Program in a Box on Title IX compliance.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for October 23, 2009.
The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund collaborated with the nonprofit Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center and the Women's Sports Foundation to provide AAUW members with the tools you need to find out if your local high schools are Title IX compliant-and what you can do if they are not. The tools, including a Program in a Box, are available on a new page on the AAUW website. A webinar for interested members will take place October 29 at 6 p.m. EDT. If you or your branch is interested in implementing this project or in participating in the webinar, please contact laf@aauw.org.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for October 16, 2009.
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame announced last week that five colleges have added football teams this year, with 12 more schools set to do the same over the next four years. The announcement did not specify whether or not any of the schools were adding opportunities for female athletes as well. Given the large amount of resources required and the high number of players college football programs generally boast, AAUW encourages schools to follow Title IX law.
ACTION: Legislation pending in Congress would require high schools to publish gender and race sports participation data on a publicly-accessible webpage; allow parents, students, and administrators to track the progress their schools are making towards equal opportunity athletics participation; and hold schools accountable to existing legislation. In honor of Title IX's recent anniversary, urge your senators and representative to support the High School Sports Information Collection Act (S. 471) and the High School Athletics Accountability Act (H.R. 2882) to ensure Title IX enforcement in our high schools. For more information concerning AAUW's position on Title IX, read our position paper.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for September 11, 2009.
The Women's Sports Foundation has posted to their website Step-by-Step: A Practical Guide To Assess and Achieve Gender Equity in School Sports. Title IX's impact on women's athletic participation is one of the country's greatest success stories. It has changed the playing field dramatically for girls and women in sports. However, full equality of opportunity has not been achieved. The Women's Sports Foundation created this guide to help parents, students and coaches understand how to become advocates for change.
AAUW firmly believes that expansion of athletic opportunities for girls and women must continue at both the high school and college levels. AAUW "advocates vigorous enforcement of Title IX and all other civil rights laws pertaining to education." Learn more about AAUW's position on Title IX and equity in school athletics. Leave your comments about Title IX on AAUW Dialog, and watch for future Action Network alerts on legislation advocating for increased enforcement of Title IX's protections.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for March 7, 2009.
While the debate on the Title IX and its affect on athletic participation for both genders is not likely to end soon, a new study released by the Women’s Sports Foundation offers new evidence on the topic. The research report, Who’s Playing College Sports?: Money, Race and Gender, puts to rest the notion that increased women’s athletic participation since the inception of Title IX has caused men’s participation to decline. In the past 25 years, both genders saw an increase in participation and funding, indicating that Title IX benefits to girls doesn’t come at the expense of boys. To provide equal opportunity for women and men in athletics, universities promoted increased participation for women instead of decreasing participation opportunities for men.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the statute barring sex discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funds, protects against discrimination in college and high school athletics. AAUW strongly supports Title IX and opposes any efforts that would weaken its effectiveness. Read more about the Title IX success story and what AAUW is doing to promote it.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for Sept. 26, 2008.
Created by the Women’s Sports Foundation in 2001 to prevent young girls from falling into a sedentary lifestyle, GoGirlGo! offers at-risk girls a fun, interactive program to keep them on the track to success and deter them from the high-risk behaviors that can accompany inactivity including obesity, heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, tobacco use, drug use, teenage pregnancy and depression. The GoGirlGo! curriculum is available at no cost through the Women’s Sports Foundation. For more information on GoGirlGo! and to order kits for a classroom or community organization supporting girls, log onto www.GoGirlGo.com or call 800-227-3988.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for February 1, 2008.