Title IX

[Name of the Author]

Title IX

History of Title IX

Title IX was passed in 1972 as part of the Educational Amendments; this amendment forbids both academic and athletic sex discrimination in schools receiving any federal aid. Title IX states, “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” (US Department of Laborhttp://www.dol.gov/oasam/regs/statutes/titleix.htm).

All institutions (ranging from elementary schools to colleges and universities) that receive federal funding of any kind are required to abide by Title IX. This includes private institutions if they accept any financial aid from the Federal government (Women's Issues-http://womensissues.about.com/library/blwyntktitleix.htm).

In order to assure that this happens in the athletic realm, various measures of evaluating equality have been developed. These factors include the following (Sheridan, 2004; About Title IX-http://bailiwick.lib.uiowa.edu/ge/aboutRE.html):

Making sure equipment and supplies are maintained and available to both sexes

Equal scheduling of games and practice times

Equal travel and allowances

Ability to receive academic tutoring if needed

Ability to receive coaching and compensation

Locker rooms, practice and competition facilities are provided for all

Use of medical and training facilities

Provision of housing and dining services

Publicity

Equal recruitment opportunities

Ensuring that sport selection meets the needs of both sexes and their abilities

There are also three tests that show a university or college is in compliance with Title IX standards. A university must be able to prove that at least one of these tests is true of their institution. The first test is “substantial proportionality”, which focuses on numbers. For this test to prove true of an institution, the ratio of enrollment of males/females in student body needs to equal the ratio of males/females in sports. The second test is that of “history and continuing practice of program expansion for the underrepresented sex”. For this test to be accurate in an institution, the university/college must show that it has added sports programs over the past years and that it is continuing to do so in order to allow for more equal opportunities for the underrepresented sex. The third test is that of “full and effective accommodation of the interests and abilities of the underrepresented sex”. For this to be true, it needs to be shown that every program needed to meet the interests and abilities of the underrepresented sex is currently in place at the institution. (All from Sheridan, 2004)

Central Issues and Latest Trends

The central issues of Title IX focus on creating equal opportunity for all people and putting an end to discrimination. Though Title IX is most often recognized within the scope of athletics, its effects can also be seen in the following areas: admissions to universities, courses available for students to take, housing options, and financial aid opportunities, and counseling services (Position paper-Title IXhttp://www.aauw.org/takeaction/policyissues/titleix.cfm). Title IX's goal is to end discrimination within colleges and universities by creating opportunities for both sexes in all realms of university ...