Thursday Thanks – Title IX

If you are female and playing college or competitive sports today, thank the legislators who 40 years ago signed Title IX, which required equal opportunity for boys and girls in school programs that received federal funding.  Athletics was one of the beneficiaries of the landmark legislation.

English: Kathrine Switzer at the 2011 Berlin Marathon Expo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You can also thank the women who made strides in sports when many said they couldn’t or shouldn’t.  The NY Times has a great timeline of women in sports; you can read it HERE.

CBS Evening News had a feature story on the first woman to run in the Boston Marathon – watch Kathrine Switzer’s story HERE.

I am proud to see the contribution women have made in the athletic world.  Yes, there is controversy as with any change, but this made a difference in how women can participate, not only compete.  I am grateful for the role models who made it possible…

Related articles

• Women, Equality, and Education: Title IX Turns 40 (with images) – EdweekComm – Storify (girlsplaybaseball.wordpress.com)
• Column: Title IX leveled more than one playing field (herald-review.com)
• 40 years of Title IX (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Celebrating a Landmark Anniversary for Women and Girls (whitehouse.gov)
• Great Moments in Women’s Sports History -Kathrine Switzer and the Boston Marathon (youngwomenmisbehavin.com)