Title IX: A Critique

Introduction

The United States, through its legislation, strives to remove discrimination on the basis of gender from all its institutions, be it in educational institutions or at workplace. Title IX of The Educational Amendments of 1972 is one such measure that restricts discriminatory practices in both academics and sports in all federally funded schools, colleges and universities. This anti-sex discrimination law was signed into law on 23rd f June, 1972 by President Nixon. This part of the educational Amendments reinforced women's share in all educational program and in athletics. However it raised many criticisms and failed to be an effort that should have guaranteed an end to sexual discrimination. What the amendment did was to actually set a base for quotas and gender preferences at school. This institutionalized discrimination at educational institutes against men and degraded the legitimate accomplishments of females in education and sports.

Discussion

Title IX had been imposed with an intent to increase the participation of women in the society especially in education sector of the US, promoting women empowerment. However it ceased to be this successful. And there can be many reasons cited for this.

The Title IX statute itself was not faulty. What went wrong was the way it was implemented. Feminists used Title IX as an agenda and imposed its postulates in bureaucracy and federal courts. This debased their genuine achievements and promoted discrimination against boys and men in schools (Carpenter, Acosta, 121-136).

The crux of the problem with Title IX is that it laid down a criterion for schools which was unjustified and somewhat partial. Female students, under Title IX have to be all athletic in schools and men can only engage in sports to an extent that women are interested in playing sports. Hence it emphasized that the percentage of all female athletes has to be matched with the percentage of all female students enrolled in a school.

It was demanding that women take part in sports as much as men, this statute ignored the natural and legitimate difference between men and women. For a woman has to look within to know our potentials. The government does not decide who is an athlete and who is not. Moreover, while on one hand it tried ensure women participation in athletes, it laid down a basis for quotas against men. It highly encouraged men to suppress their natural inclination towards athletes just to give females a superior position in sports (Randall, 116-121).

It is considered justified that the progress of women has to be attributed to the enactment of this Title IX. This would translate into a credit for the government and boost the case of female empowerment. Yet this law overlooked the costs these policies have had on men and the individuality of females was undermined. This requires genuine efforts to its re-enactment with necessary changes so that it may not be harmful to either of the gender and translate into a totally non-discriminatory environment for all (Bernard, 67-83).

Title IX tried to prove a level ...