Fifty-three years ago, the United States implemented the Education Amendments of 1972. We know it as Title IX. June 23 is the anniversary of Title IX. What benefits do girls and women enjoy from this landmark Amendment? Title IX gives female high school and college athletes equal opportunities in athletics as well as access to athletic scholarships.
In 1972, I was 10 years old. My father raised three girls and told us, “You can be anything you want” and I believed him. My grandmother played high school basketball in rural Iowa over 100 years ago. Iowa has consistently led the nation as a state that values equal rights for women. I am proud to be surrounded by people who value our rights as women.
In high school, I participated in women’s golf. I didn’t know this was a fairly new right for young women. In the years since my graduation, women participating in high school athletics has risen from 500,000 to over 3 million!
Title IX significantly expanded educational and athletic opportunities for women and girls. Today, nearly 40% of women hold college degrees, in part due to the availability of athletic scholarships.
Let’s celebrate the benefits of Title IX! Realize that these rights are entirely dependent upon our knowledge and support. If we ignore recent obstacles in schools permitting males identifying as females into women’s athletics, Title IX benefits disappear.
Male athletes who self-identify as women or girls are receiving women’s scholarships, using women’s locker rooms, breaking women’s records, and winning local, state, and national championships in women’s athletics in some states.
As the Legislative Liaison for Concerned Women for America of Iowa, alongside our State Director, Tamara Scott, we will defend female-only sports in Iowa if threatened.
We appreciate the legislators who had the foresight to write and the courage to vote for Title IX 53 years ago. Happy Anniversary, Title IX!
- Laura Carlson
Legislative Liaison
Concerned Women for America of Iowa
