Civil rights issues have long been an important topic of debate and legal proceedings in the United States. Throughout U.S. history, women and people of color have faced battles to be allowed to vote, own property and even attend school.
Although most people agree that our society has come a long way, there are still lessons to learn about how to protect everyone’s rights without taking them from others.
A timeline of the history of Title IX reveals how this amendment began with the hope of providing more opportunities for people regardless of sex or gender, along with how it has now become an important conversation during many legal proceedings.
What is Title IX?
In 1964, the Civil Rights Act made it illegal to discriminate against any person based upon their religion, race, color, natural origin or sex. Later, the Act was amended to also include a ban on discrimination against people according to their gender identity or sexual orientation.
This legal action went a long way toward promoting equality for everyone in the U.S., but it wasn’t enough. The ban against discrimination wasn’t always held up in educational environments, which left women and others at a disadvantage.
Title IX was implemented to fill in the gaps left behind by the original Civil Rights Act, and watching its evolution provides powerful insight into how and why schools and courts handle discrimination and sexual assault accusations.
Why was Title IX needed?
Title IX was added as a part of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972. The law was written by a woman named Patsy Mink who was the first person of color to ever be elected to Congress. The original Title IX law was short, and it makes the reason for it clear by stating that no one should be excluded from a federally funded educational program or discriminated against in such a program based upon sex.
Although this amendment doesn’t specifically mention sports, this is the primary reason why it was put into action. Before Title IX, female athletes had fewer opportunities than male athletes. For example, the institutions that ruled college sports didn’t offer scholarships or championships for women’s sports teams.
Once Title IX came into play, sports programs were required to provide female athletes with access to programs, facilities and equipment that was equivalent to those provided to male athletes.
What are the recent changes to Title IX?
An important moment in the history of Title IX began in the late 1970s. This is when it was broadened to protect female students from harassment from instructors since this could also be viewed as a form of discrimination.
Later, the law was further broadened to protect students from instances of sexual violence from anyone related to their education, including classmates and members of the staff.
Title IX is important for ensuring that everyone has equal access to education and opportunities to engage in sports programs without fearing harassment or assault. Yet, it’s also important to remember that those who are accused of sexual misconduct or discrimination should still be provided with the opportunity to prove their innocence.
Title IX cases are often complicated by an educational institution’s concern about protecting its reputation and finances. In some cases, those who are accused face being placed at a disadvantage for proving their innocence.
Working with an experienced lawyer helps to ensure that everyone’s rights are protected as this law intends.