On the 35th Anniversary of Title IX, Hinojosa holds Hearing to Analyze the Law’s Successes and Shortfalls

Washington, DC (June 19, 2007) – In 1972, U.S. Congresswoman Patsy Mink of Hawaii introduced a seemingly simple legislative proposal. It stated:

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.

Despite its simplicity, this 37-word law has had a monumental impact on the fabric of American society. Title IX, now known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, ended the days of women being denied admission into academic programs based on their gender. It ushered in a new era of opportunity for women and girls in America.

In light of the 35th anniversary of this law, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, held a subcommittee hearing today to reflect on the successes of Title IX and the hurdles that remain in the way of a truly level playing field.

“As we celebrate the success of Title IX, we must look to the future and the work left to be done,” said Hinojosa. “It is critical that we find ways to strengthen this law and widen the educational opportunities available to our next generation of female leaders.”

In its more than three decades as law, Title IX has made a significant footprint on America’s educational landscape. In 1972, the year Title IX was enacted, women earned merely 28 percent of all bachelor’s degrees awarded in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Today, women earn 49.2 percent of the bachelor’s degrees in these fields.

Title IX also shattered the myth that women and girls were not interested in competing in interscholastic athletics. Since its enactment, the number of women participating in intercollegiate athletics has increased five-fold.  The number of female high school athletes has grown by almost 900 percent.

“Despite these successes, we still have a great deal of work to do in order to achieve the promise of equality and freedom from discrimination that is at the heart of Title IX,” noted Hinojosa. “There are still great gaps in the support offered to women’s athletics and in the participation levels found in various academic disciplines.  More critically, there is still much to be done to ensure that our educational institutions are free from sexual harassment.”

According to witness who testified before the subcommittee today, continued discrimination in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, otherwise known as the STEM fields, is still a concern. Women remain underrepresented in engineering and physical sciences, earning only 20 percent of the degrees awarded in these subjects.

Witnesses also raised concerns about the continued lack of support for women’s athletics. According to a study by the National Women’s Law Center, women are still given fewer opportunities than males to participate in sports. When they do play, they are treated like second-class citizens in the facilities, equipment, coaching, publicity and other support services they receive. At the same time, sexual discrimination is still widely prevalent on university campuses, even though Title IX bars recipients of financial assistance from discrimination on the basis of sex.
 
“We have seen on-going efforts to undermine the protections of Title IX through regulation or through litigation,” concluded Hinojosa. “Over the course of the last 35 years, we have learned that we can never take equal opportunity for granted.”