Title IX: New Opportunities

The Education Act of 1972 is widely known in the U.S. as Title IX. It became effective on 23 June 1972, one day before my high school graduation

The entire text was just 37 words:  
“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.”

It had a huge effect on my life.

I was very active in school sports: softball, volleyball and basketball. In school, boys could participate in no less than eleven sports.  At the end of each season they were awarded a Varsity letter.

The girls teams weren't considered "varsity." They were called "extra-murals" even though we traveled to other schools and played at a high level. Our athletic choices were basketball, softball, volleyball and water ballet.  We didn't have uniforms. We had to provide our own equipment with the exception of balls (As the softball catcher I needed a mask, chest protector, shin guards and catcher's mitt.) Our volleyball and softball teams aren't even in the yearbook.

Then I began college. Title IX changed everything. I played NCAA Volleyball. Division II and III could offer athletic scholarships. Women's sports opportunities began to expand. That first year my college had varsity teams in volleyball, basketball, track, bowling, swimming, soccer, track and tennis. Larger programs added things like gymnastics, golf, and more.

We had real uniforms, a trainer and equal access to the gym for practices and games. We received rewards and recognition after every season. I'll put a photo of a section of my senior year award as an extra. It was a heavy wool blanket, personally embroidered, for four years on the team.  

At the Univerity of Arizona alone in the decades since Title IX was passed, it has produced four NCAA women of the year, 46 Olympic medalists, 115 national champions, 834 All-Americans and 45 Academic All-Americans. How many World Cups possibly not won without Title IX? Would women's high profile professional leagues, like basketball and soccer, even exist?

Thirty-seven words in 1972 changed millions of lives. I was blessed to be among the first.