Title IX

From Title IX to Goal Five: Why Representation Still Matters in Sport

a group of smiling women's field hockey players

Impact of Title IX & The Benefits of Instilling Sports among Women

Richard Nixon signed the Education Amendment Act in 1972, which stated that education is a fundamental right for everyone. In Title IX, a clause was added that prohibited gender-based discrimination within sports programs specifically. In 1972, less than 300,000 girls participated in high school sports. Luckily that number is ten times higher today as over 3.4 million girls participate, which is largely due to the efforts of Title IX.


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What Does Title IX Entail?

In the U.S., educational institutions are required to provide equal opportunities for female and male athletes. They are also required to prevent discrimination in the areas of training facilities, equipment, and support provided to programs. To comply with the requirements of Title IX, every university and college in the country is required to annually report its athletics data. The report must also detail the various expenses and salaries of coaches and staff members, as well as the number of athletes participating in the program.


When Title IX was implemented during the era that also saw the second wave of feminism, women were still fighting for equal pay and opportunities. Women's participation in sports was limited, especially at the collegiate level. Prior to its implementation, there were various efforts made to encourage women to participate in inter-collegiate athletics. These include the formation of a commission for women in 1966, as well as the announcement of several championship programs for females in 1969. As the country went through a major social transformation during that time, Title IX gained widespread recognition as an important step toward gender parity.


Although Title IX provided additional funding to support women's participation in athletics at the collegiate level, many colleges did not have the necessary resources to allocate the same amount of money to men's and women's athletics. According to the NCAA, in the institutions that fall under its first division, the spending for men's athletics is three times greater than that of women.

the front of the US Department of Education building
Since Title IX provided for better opportunities for women's athletics, some universities have started to reduce the number of scholarships and awards they offer in other subjects. The Department of Education also started to reduce the number of leadership programs and scholarships for women. Image courtesy of New America .

What Has Title IX Led To?

Title IX was one of the first laws to provide women with the necessary resources and opportunities to participate in sports. Despite its shortcomings, it has been able to make a significant impact in the field of women's sports. Changes in regulations are often accompanied by compliance structures that are designed to ensure accountability, especially important in the case of women's participation in sports.


Although Title IX was initially established to provide women with education opportunities, it has since become a vital step in the process of enabling them to participate in sports. After its inception, women's rights advocates started talking about the activities that women could no longer be denied when their school was receiving federal financial assistance.


During this time, there were still restrictions on women's participation in sports classes and opportunities to practice. Due to the changes brought about by Title IX, many schools started to allow women to participate in sports.


There are over 3,700 professional sports teams across the globe, and approximately 826 are dedicated solely to women. Soccer is one of the most popular sports for women, and there are over 1,100 teams all around the world. Professional basketball is also popular among women, as 20% of all teams out there are women’s teams. Other sports  making up professional sports teams for women include ice hockey, softball, volleyball, tennis, golf, rugby, and lacrosse.


Title IX has allowed women to have more opportunities to pursue their passion for sports and make a living out of it professionally.


Goal Five graphic that shows that in 1972 only 1 in 27 girls played sports and that is now 2 in 5 in the year 2025.

U.S. Women’s Soccer Team Lawsuit

The US Women's National Soccer team won a lawsuit in February 2022, which was a long battle regarding the women's team being paid less than their male counterparts. The men's team didn't even make it to the top 15 teams in the world and hasn't qualified for the World Cup every four years. As part of the settlement, the Soccer Federation agreed to pay equal compensation to the male and female national teams for all competitions. This is a huge victory for women's soccer and women's sports in general, as more nations begin implementing equal pay agreements.

the symbol of Spain
In 2022, Spain's Football Federation agreed to pay female players the same bonuses as their male counterparts. This new agreement will last five years. Despite the progress that has been made, there is still a long way to go before women's sports can fully realize equality. Image courtesy of Inside World Football .

Flaws Still Remain

Although Title IX was a significant step toward gender equality in athletics and education, it also had unintended repercussions, specifically regarding coaching roles. Before it was implemented in 1972, over 90% of women's teams were led by women. However, by 1982, the figure had dropped to around 50% and then to 40% by 2010. From 2011 to 2021, the number of female head coaches in professional sports remained relatively flat at 42%. Today, that number is even lower at less than 25%. This lack of progress highlights the challenges that still remain in attaining full equality in coaching roles.


The lack of progress toward full equality in coaching positions can be attributed to various factors, such as systemic barriers and deep-rooted gender roles. Although men have traditionally dominated leadership roles in professional sports, this doesn't mean that they are more suited to coaching. Women are also discouraged from pursuing coaching positions due to various factors, such as patriarchal ideologies and gender roles. The lack of females as role models in coaching also contributes to the underrepresentation of women in these positions.


Increasing the number of women coaches on the field is not just a matter of equity, it's also a game-changer for both the athletes and the teams that they serve. Studies have shown that diversifying coaching can foster a more inclusive environment, and it can help improve the performance of female athletes. Female coaches can additionally provide valuable perspectives on various topics, such as injury prevention and women's health.

Skill Development from Sports

As the number of women's sports continues to rise , it is important that girls participate in order to develop their physical health and life skills. Sports can help them build confidence and develop other life skills such as resilience, which also provides them with the opportunity to challenge themselves and develop new friendships.


The organization noted that girls who participate in athletics are more likely to feel higher self-esteem and experience lower levels of depression. This conclusion is supported by a study that was conducted in 2024, which found that regular exercise is associated with a higher level of self-worth and confidence.

Correlation to STEM

When it comes to sports, particularly team sports , athletes must work together and communicate effectively to reach a common objective. Such skills are crucial in STEM fields since collaboration is often used to solve problems. During games, competitors must think critically and develop strategies to overcome obstacles and challenges. Competitive sports are known to have a correlation to higher education and impressive degrees, as 80% of female Fortune 500 executives grew up playing sports.


These abilities can be used in STEM fields, where critical thinking and problem-solving are vital. In order to succeed in STEM, student athletes must have resilience and perseverance which are qualities that are crucial in sports where setbacks and difficulties are common. The field of sports is becoming increasingly digitized and uses science and technology to enhance performance, training, and injury prevention.

a female working on machinery
STEM skills can help female athletes succeed in the industry, and 50% of female executives say the lessons they learned from sports contributed to their professional success.

Higher Education

Women's higher education opportunities are significantly enhanced by participating in sports. Girls who participate in such activities tend to perform better in their studies, as sports instill discipline, focus, and time management, which can improve their academic performance.


Children who are physically active are more likely to go to college, and women who play in NCAA Division I schools are more likely to graduate than their counterparts who don't. Sports can provide girls with a framework for developing the necessary skills to succeed in their future careers. In 1972, there were less than 30,000 female college athletes, and that number has risen to over 220,000 in today’s day in age.

Imperfect But the Impact is Still Vast

The Title IX legislation was one of the first laws to provide institutional provisions that sought to improve the representation of women in sports. Despite its shortcomings, it has been able to make a significant impact in the field of women's sports. It is crucial that the policies related to the representation of women in sports are updated, and compliance programs are necessary to ensure accountability especially when it comes to women's sports participation.












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