New Library Topic: Title IX

Our new library topic page examines the history, rationale and consequences of Title IX. As part of the “Education Amendments of 1972,” Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs.

Particular focus of Title IX and its implementation has been on college athletics. But given the small number of women in math, science, and engineering, its proponents have been trying to extend enforcement to those departments as well.

In order to demonstrate compliance with Title IX, schools have to meet the proportionality test, meaning they have to show that the gender makeup of the department in question mirrors that of the school’s full-time undergraduate student population.

The problem with the proportionality test is obvious: It fails to take into account individual differences and interests. I am a woman, and I hated sports all the way up to and through high school. Likewise in high school and college, I was more interested in philosophy, psychology, history, and literature than sports, math, or science.

Still, many feminists claim that women would be equally interested in sports, math, and sciences, were it not for societal messages about gender roles and discrimination. Apparently, it is totally lost on these feminists that to presume a woman cannot really know what she wants and has to be told about it by some authority is in itself patronizing and demeaning.

Title IX is another prime example of government regulation ignoring individual differences in the elusive quest for equality. It was implemented with a noble goal in mind (aren’t they all?): Ensure that the opportunity to participate in educational programs is open to all who seek it. Yet, the consequence has been reduced opportunities as programs are cut to meet the logically flawed proportionality requirement.

Check out Title IX and our library for more topics. Special thanks to our intern Annie Holmquist for putting together this topic! To find out more about internships with IT, go here.