Bodies in Motion, Futures in Question: Title IX Forces Significant Societal Change

Author: Brielle Rene

Field of Study: Undeclared

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Will Glovinsky

Easel: 12

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. It is widely known for expanding opportunities for women in sports, but its impact extends beyond just athletics. While advocates imagined a generation of strong girls changing gender equality, opponents warned that expanding women’s sports could threaten traditional femininity, male programs, and established social structures. By analyzing Coming on Strong: Gender and Sexuality in Women’s Sports by Susan Cahn, 1970’s women's movements, or Qualifying Times: Points of Change in U.S Women’s Sports, this research considers how debates over women’s sports became flashpoints in divergent visions of the future of gender relations. Understanding the broader effects of Title IX reveals not only the progress that has been made, but the challenges that remain in achieving full gender equality in educational spaces.