Did you know that:
• Before Title IX, the primary physical activities for girls in school were cheerleading and square dancing?
• Before Title IX, only 1 in 27 girls played high school sports?
• Before Title IX, college scholarships for girls were virtually nonexistent and some school even limited the number of women admitted?
• Before Title IX, less than 10 percent of law and medical degrees were earned by women?
In 1972, what is now known as Title IX of the Education Amendments Act vowed to change that.
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
That was 40 years ago. Today, opportunities for girls and women have grown significantly. One in every 2.5 high school athletes is a girl, nearly half of the doctoral degrees awarded go to women and more than $1 million in scholarships go to female athletes at Division I schools.
What does this mean?
• High school girls who play sports are less likely to be involved in an unintended pregnancy; more likely to get better grades in school and more likely to graduate than girls who do not play sports.
• Girls and women who play sports have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem and lower levels of depression.
• Girls and women who play sports have a more positive body image and experience higher states of psychological well-being than girls and women who do not play sports.
And 40 years ago today, I gave birth to a little girl. She and her sisters got to grow up in a world that did not discriminate against them in this way. How cool is that? And how cool are they?
You raised three wonderful women.
I thank you, you big kiss-up! And how many more have you presented to society because of Title IX, Coach?
40 years ago today, I was 15 years old. My mom was at Jean’s for the birth of Elizabeth. Mama Harrison came to Pecos to help take care of me. I didn’t have a driver’s license, yet, but a permit to drive with an adult. She let me drive for hours. I don’t remember much else about those days. I bet she could tell some stories, though.
Well, that dear lady, Maud Kate Miller Harrison, our maternal grandmother, may not have enjoyed the benefits of Title IX, but she was amazing for her time. She was born in 1899 in Wills Point, Texas, the eldest of nine children, and moved into Indian Territory as a young girl. I don’t know who taught her to drive, but I can remember her driving that old stick-shift Studebaker for many years before she took you out for your practice sessions.
Hey, pretty cool!
Yes, pretty cool!