Welcome to SPORTY GIRL BOOKS. At SPORTY GIRL, we want to give all girls the chance to love, watch, play, read, and write about any sport that interests them. We look forward to the day when the words, "You play like a girl," is the biggest compliment anyone can receive.

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Upcoming: 45th Anniversary of Title IX


I’m thinking ahead to June 23, which is not only Olympic Day but also the 45th anniversary of the passage of Title IX. This groundbreaking legislation was signed into law as part of the Higher Education Act by then President Nixon. Its impact has been far-reaching and positive for girls in our country by prohibiting discrimination and ensuring fair and equal access and opportunity:

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 educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

It’s important to note this Civil Rights legislation is not only for sports but all federally funded educational opportunities. A statistic that demonstrates it’s impact on girls sports: before 1972 only one in 27 girls played high school sports and today that number has increased to two in five.  With that said, there’s still work to be done as noted per the video link at the end of this post from Olympic soccer star, Julie Foudy.

While there are several websites and go-to resources, my recommendation for anyone wanted a primer to understand this gender equity issue is to begin with The Women’s Sports Foundation on Title IX (primer, myths and facts). Also, Nancy Hogshead-Maker (attorney, three-time Olympic Gold medalist in swimming) founded the nonprofit organization, ChampionWomen: Advocacy for Girls & Women in Sports, which serves as another resource.

Here are a few books about Title IX. Unfortunately, a quick check of copyright and it’s clear several are outdated, but they offer a historical overview of this landmark legislation.

Encyclopedia of Title IX and Sports by Nicole Mitchell (2007)

Equal Play: Title IX and Social Change by Nancy Hogshead-Makar and Andrew Zimbalist (2007)

Getting in the Game: Title IX and the Women's Sports Revolution by Deborah Brake (2010)

Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX: The Law That Changed the Future of Girls in America by Karen Blumenthal (2005)
Check out: Sporty Girl Books post from September 13, 2016

A Place on the Team: the Triumph and Tragedy of Title IX by Welch Suggs (2005)

Playing for Equity by Diane LeBlanc and Allys Swanson (2016)

Title IX by Linda Jean Carpenter (2004)

 Video:  The next steps for Title IX per Julie Foudy from Positive Coaching Alliance.

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