This year, we are celebrating the 45th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark legislation which mandates equality in educational opportunities regardless of sex. While Title IX may be best known for ensuring that girls and women have equal access to sports on campuses across the U.S., its impact goes far beyond what happens on the playing field; radiating out to our board rooms, war rooms, and yes, someday even oval rooms.
There are very few people who know this better than Billie Jean King, one of the Titans of Title IX herself. She is the founder of the Women’s Sports Foundation, and a long-time pioneer for equality and social justice. She famously won the Battle of the Sexes tennis match against Bobby Riggs in 1973, ushering in a new era of progress for women and sports. Watch the iconic game for yourself when Battle of the Sexes comes to the big screen this September.
How Did Title IX Get You in the Game?
Whether you were a college hoops standout or the star of your 2nd grade soccer team, how has equal access to sports impacted your life?
“How has equal access to sports impacted your life?” It’s been everything. As a high school athlete, I was much more interested in what my body could do rather than what it looked like. Participation in sports gave me more confidence in all areas of my life. I was off and the only girl in the weight room and while extra weight training for sports for girls wasn’t that come in yet, titled nine definitely open the door and gave me the confidence to be there with the boys. Title Nine gave me the confidence to make a Division I college team as a walk on. I tried out for the team because I loved the sport, without title nine I wouldn’t have been able to experience that love and all the experiences of playing at that level. I learned that you win some and you lose some. I learned that when you lose the league championship, the sun comes up the next morning you put on your running shoes and you get back at it. I learned that there really is no such thing as failure. I learned the pure joy of winning the league championship game on a penalty stroke. I learned sportswomanship on and off the field. Sports and fitness has remained central to my life, it’s supported me in good times and challenging times, it’s even supported me when I set it aside, always being there ready for me to come back. And I am grateful to the women who knew they were capable of playing more than half court basketball, because back in the day it was that women didn’t have the stamina to run a full court. I’m grateful for the women who kept running even though they were told or uteruses might fall out. Title IX, along with my supportive family, showed me that I could question every limiting assumption about the potential of girls and women in sport and every other aspect of life.
I was in my 20’s and beginning my Junior year in college when Title IX became law. It was the beginning of a new era for girls (women) participation in athletics and over time, I was able to help forge the way for women in athletics. As an athlete on some of the first sanctioned college basketball and volleyball teams and coach of very early high school volleyball, basketball and softball teams I saw how Title IX impacted the character and growth of many girls/ women over time. In my 66 years, I have been an athlete, a coach, an educator, a mentor to young women and have loved every minute of it. All THANKS to the changes that came about because of Title XI. I would like to see your magazine honor active women “of all ages” by featuring more mature women (at times) in your catalog. I realize 60+ year old women are not your main demographic, but I love and value quality, active wear and your company is one of the best at providing great clothing and accessory options!! Thanks for continuing to remind us how far we have come since Title IX was made law.