My first Op-Ed piece: Title IX

Hello! So for one of my social justice assignments I had to write an op-ed article. Let me just tell you that I was rather intimidated and nervous. Having never done one before, I was not all that confident how it would end up. All in all I think it was okay for my first one. There is room for improvement for sure, but I wanted to share it with you anyway.  ALSO, keep in mind that I wrote about Title IX on my own accord way before the sexism/ feminist topic came up in class. I decided to post this because it just so happen to fit in well with other posts. (Especially because I am on my feminist kick at the moment...)

Women ≠Title IX, and I’m Sick of it!

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational programs or activity receiving federal financial assistance” (Valentin, 1997). Sounds pretty sweet, huh? If only those words were actually carried out properly. These words were not stated in law until gender inequality and gender discrimination against women was fought against with Title IX. Even though the rights, support and privileges given to women participating in sports has improved, thanks to Title IX, gender inequality and gender discrimination in sports is an issue that has been prevalent in the past and continues today. Through legislation like Title IX enacted in June 1972 as a part of the Education Amendments, females are supposed to be given the equal opportunities they rightfully deserve, but that is not necessarily happening in reality.

           

With the athletic environment being dominated by males, women are faced with a difficult challenge of receiving the same support, funding, and respect that their male counterparts are receiving. This was especially true before Title IX was enacted because there was no regulation on how schools spent money on athletics for men and women. The wording of the legislation states that it applies to “public or private preschool, elementary, or secondary school, or any institution of vocational, professional, or higher education” (9 U.S.C. § 1681, 1972) which gives women protection all throughout their sporting careers. With emphasis placed on the male participation and domination of sports, more money, attention, promotion, advertisement, prestige, and awareness all enhance these traits. Tuyckom, Scheerder, and Bracke, researchers on gender inequalities and discrimination, have said that the inequalities and discrimination will not be able to be overcome until “accompanying changes at the cultural, political, and societal levels” occur as well.

           

 The issue of gender inequality and discrimination in sports carries such significance and importance because it is a matter of equality for women regardless of the specific issue. Another importance is that the rights given to women under United States law are being properly honored. When equality is fought for and stressed in one area of life for women, it is then naturally carried into other areas of life. And through this desire for justice, a mentality for women to stand up for their rights and to encourage female equality becomes more accepted.

           

This particular issue is so important to me because as a female athlete I have lived and experienced this discrimination. I have felt less than a male athlete; just because I am a female and female athletics are not a good as males. I have been told I was less than, that I was not as athletic, that my sports were less interesting, and I was not as important as other male athletes of the same ability and skill simply because I am a woman.

         

Only some progress has been made, gender equality has not been achieved and there is even a decrease in female athletic provision. This is an issue that I do feel alone, but something many women and females experience all over. Even though Title IX is in place and an active piece of governing legislature, gender equality and discrimination is still occurring and very much an issue of today. Studies are showing that while growth has occurred since Title IX, trends are starting to show that progress in equality has slowed if not stopped completely.

One of many examples I have experienced in my life is throughout high school the obvious, blatant discrimination and difference between the baseball program and softball program. I was not aware of the specific language of the Title IX law and the protection it gives women; I simply knew that my high school was not right in the way it funded and accommodated the two teams. Why I did not question or ask my coaches and school administration why this was so? I do not know. Lack of knowledge or not feeling empowered enough? I’m not quite sure. Gender inequality and discrimination exists, and as a woman and an athlete I need to not allow it to continue, and should raise awareness. No matter what label society places on women and our quality of athletics we should not be neglected and given any less than what a male receives.

Stay tuned for more posts about sexism and gender inequality from some of the reading I have been doing...

Thanks for reading readers! Happy thoughts!