Title IX
...ents, females had curfews and athletic scholarships for females did not exist (U.S. Department of Education). Title IX changed all that. Today, females and male students are equal. It is actually easier for female students to get admitted into schools because of affirmative action. Before Title IX assumptions about women were that they were inferior to men, not as smart or athletic. Since the inception of Title IX that has changed. Through the past thirty-two years we have realized that women and men are equal both in education and athletics. Title IX was the basis for all of this. Title IX paved the way for women in education and sports. Before Title IX, schools would discriminate against females who became pregnant or who had a child. Title IX prohibits schools from suspending, expelling, or discriminating against women because they are pregnant or have a child. Title IX has played a part in lowering the dropout rate among high school females who become pregnant or have a child. To help prevent dropouts of pregnant students and mothers, many school districts opened alternative schools for these females to help them succeed in school and graduate. Although the childbearing rates rose between 1980 and 1990 from less than 1 percent to 2.5 percent, dropout rates declined 30 percent during the same time period. (U.S. Department of Education 8) Without Title IX females who became pregnant wouldn’t receive an education because they would dropout or get expelled. It allowed women who accidentally or intentionally decided to start a family, a chance to pursue a career. Title IX has played a huge part in increasing the opportunity for women to succeed in math and science. According to the Third International Math and Science Study released in 1999, America has no gender gap in eighth grade math and science (U.S. Department of Education 9). According to the National Center for Education Statistics, females are likely to increase their science proficiency level between the 8th and 12th grades, by 51 percent. Female students were more likely to take more sophisticated mathematics courses by 1992 than they were in 1982, and females are more likely than males to take algebra II. The same is true for advanced science courses, with females more likely than males to study biology. Also in 1994, 95 percent of females took biology and 59 percent took chemistry. In 1992, women, compared to only 27 percent in 1962, earned 47 percent of the undergraduate degrees awarded in math. (U.S. Department of Education 9) Title IX has made it possible for women to take whatever courses they choose. Without Title IX women would not be participating and succeeding in these courses in record numbers. Today women are the majority in college, thanks mainly to Title IX. In 1973, 43 percent of female high school graduates were enrolled in college, this increased to 63 percent in 1994. In 1971, 18 percent of women had completed four or more years of college, this increased to 27 percent in 1994. In 1972, women earned 9 percent of all medical degrees and 1 percent of all dental degrees, both of these increased to 38 percent in 1994. In 1971, women earned 7 percent of all law degrees, in 1994, this number increased to 43 percent. (U.S. Department of Education 10) In, 1994, women were earning the majority of veterinary science and pharmacy degrees. Title IX has blessed women with opportunities to attend college and graduate schools. Women are increasingly becoming a bigger part of the professional world. Today, more females are attending college then males. Also, women are earning the majority of associate and master degrees. By 2006, women are projected to earn 55 percent of all bachelor's degrees. Women have been earning degrees in non-traditional fields, such as business. In 1962, women earned 8 percent of business degrees, this number increased to 47 percent in 1992. (U.S. Department of Education 11) The result of women earning degrees in non-traditional fields would be an increase in their earning potential. Title IX has made it possible for women to start to enter and equalize traditionally dominant male occupations. Title IX has increased career opportunities for women. The equal education opportunities that women have received have given them a chance to enter into non-traditional career opportunities. In 1994, Judith Rodin became the first female president of an Ivy League institution, University of Pennsylvania (Marklein Par. 7). According to a study by the American Council on Education, in 2001, women were presidents at 22 percent of the nation's approximately 3,800 colleges and universities. In 1986, women were president at just 9.5 percent of colleges and universities (Marklein Par. 1). Title IX has increased female participation in sports. Institutions that receive federal funding are required to have an equal number of sports teams for both male and female students. Females have more opportunities in sports and receive more athletic scholarships because of Title IX. According to Wendy Olson, author of “Beyond Title IX, Toward an Agenda for Women and Sports in the 1990s’,” In the early part of the 20th century, women athletes were to engage only in physical activity that allowed them to walk a fine line- exercise was to make them a better women without imbalancing their delicate physiques…women were simply too fragile to engage in strenuous physical contests…Title IX and equal protection litigation together did work a revolution of sorts in women’s sports in the 1970’s. (109-115) Acc...