June 23rd, marks the 36th anniversary of Title IX, the revolutionary federal law that outlaws sex-discrimination in education. Title IX, which was originally passed in 1972, reads: "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[.]" The regulations for implementing Title IX were issued in 1975, and require that schools publish grievance procedures, and have Title IX coordinators.
According to a special report in Ms. magazine the gains since 1972 are extraordinary, and not just in sports: In 1970 women were only 40% of all undergraduates, now they are 60%. Previously women received just 14% of doctoral degrees, but today they earn "nearly half." In medical schools, 50% of students are now women, whereas prior to Title IX women represented just 10%, and in law school, women students have jumped from 7% to 49%. According to the Handbook for Achieving Gender Equity through Education prior to Title IX, many scholarships "could only be awarded to men, and financial aid…could be denied to women who were married, pregnant or had children."
Title IX still faces challenges. The 2007 report from the National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education notes that "Title IX is under attack from critics who claim that there is a 'boys' crisis." Yet, "studies show…that girls' gains have not come at boys' expense." Moreover, in 2006 the Department of Education further weakened Title IX by allowing more sex-segregated education in public schools. These changes have been challenged by the ACLU in recent lawsuits.
Media Resources: Feminist Majority Foundation 6/23/2008, Feminist Majority Foundation 6/11/2008, National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education 2008, Handbook for Achieving Gender Equity through Education, 2007, Ms. magazine, Fall 2007.
5/22/2013 Immigration Reform Bill Advances In Senate - Last night, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a sweeping immigration reform bill in a bipartisan vote of 13 to 5. . . .
5/22/2013 Afghan Women Arrested for 'Moral Crimes' Increases 50% - A new report by the Human Rights Watch shows that in the past 18 months the number of women in Afghanistan incarcerated for 'moral crimes' has increased from 400 to 600, a 50% growth.
Many of the women imprisoned for moral crimes were arrested running away from forced or abusive marriages and families, even though there is no law against leaving. . . .
5/22/2013 Army Commander Suspended for Adultery Amid Wave of Sexual Assaults - On Tuesday, Brigadier General Bryan T Roberts was suspended from his position as commander of the Fort Jackson, South Carolina training camp which trains approximately 60% of incoming female recruits pending an investigation into allegations of adultery.
Roberts was suspended following allegations of "adultery and a physical altercation." Colonel Christian Kubik, an Army spokesperson for the Training and Doctrine Command, told reporters "We don't have any evidence of any sexual assault. . . .
