The Pros And Cons Of Title IX

Title IX: Impacts and Controversies

Women’s rights have long been a topic of great interest and controversy. Women were assaulted, imprisoned, or even killed for demanding equality. It took years for the first women’s suffrage bill to pass, and even longer for women to be treated as equals. After the women’s suffrage bill was passed, society realized the need for women to have further rights. One of these bills was Title IX, an educational amendment passed in 1972 (Johnson). The US Department of Justice explains that “Title IX protects students from sexual harassment in educational programs or activities operated by recipients of federal funding” (“Title IX”). In order to evaluate the full impact of Title IX on students today, it’s necessary

Title IX had a long and arduous journey to reach ratification. Greg Johnson, a writer and renowned sports journalist for the National College Athletic Association, explains how in the 1970s Senator Birch Bayh advocated for an equal rights amendment to the Education Act but faced many obstacles along the way. “Sen. Strom Thurmond, of South Carolina, raised an objection and asked for a parliamentary inquiry as to whether the amendment was germane [relevant]. The parliamentarian ruled that since sex was never mentioned in the Education Act, it wasn't germane, stalling the amendment. Undeterred, Bayh came back in 1972 and introduced the Title IX provision” (Johnson). Bayh returned once again with the Title IX provision to honor his wife. She had previously been denied several opportunities men would’ve easily been allowed based on her gender. Bayh, in turn, wanted to provide these opportunities for the women of the future, as well as pay tribute to his wife. Johnson goes on to detail that “through negotiations [and a legislative deal that involved Sen. Jim Eastland, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee], the Equal Rights Amendment was passed in March 1972, sending it to the

Alongside athletics, Pruitt also explains that “female students were often barred from certain male-only courses or fields of study, including everything from wood shop and calculus to criminal justice, law and medicine.” Often, Title IX is only thought of as opening the door for women to participate in athletics; however, it does much more than that. Title IX allows women to participate in typically male-associated classes and activities. This participation allows women to partake in STEM career fields, such as construction and engineering. Not only does Title IX break gender barriers across the job spectrum, but it allows women more college opportunities as well as the ability to pursue higher education. Barbara Winslow, a distinguished lecturer and historian, explains, “Young women were not admitted into many colleges and universities…girls could become teachers and nurses, but not doctors or principals; women rarely were awarded tenure and even more rarely appointed college presidents.” These opportunities women were denied would’ve allowed them to be more independent and have a better chance of success later in life. As is known today, female professors and university presidents are significantly more common on college campuses. Alongside female professors and presidents having more opportunities, young college women are now pursuing Masters and Doctorate