Title IX and the Privilege of Playing Sports

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in sports between males and females. Passed in 1972, it has been instrumental in creating equal opportunities for female athletes across the country. But for many high school students like me, Title IX is something we don’t always think about—it's just always been a law. After all, I’ve been playing basketball my whole life without any issues, and I’ve had the opportunity to be part of my high school’s first-ever flag football team. But with the help of a few individuals, I have learned that my experiences are the result of a long history of struggle and empowerment.

Each year, my club, Girl Up, hosts an International Women’s Day Symposium where we curate a panel of inspiring women. Their various backgrounds and experiences are shared with hundreds of students. One year, the author of State: A Team, A Triumph, A Transformation, a book that journeys through a woman’s experience playing a sport for the first time, came to speak at our event. She spoke about her own experiences with sports, especially the differences between the women’s and men’s teams.

Another impactful moment for me came when Ms. Knockman, a longtime fan of our high school’s girls’ basketball team, shared her story. She talked about playing basketball for the first time after Title IX was passed, both in high school and later at the University of Michigan. Her experiences helped me to realize how hard women like Ms. Knockman had to fight to get the same opportunities that many of us take for granted today. Her story gave me a new perspective on what it means to be an athlete, and it also made me realize how important it is to recognize the sacrifices and struggles that came before me.

In recognition of these sacrifices, my high school basketball team hosted an event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX. During one of our games, we honored empowering alumni who had paved the way for us and inspired younger athletes in the process. It was a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come, but also how much work still needs to be done to continue creating equal opportunities for all athletes.

Reflecting on all of these experiences, I’ve come to realize just how privileged I am to be able to play sports without facing many of the obstacles that previous generations of women had to overcome. Title IX has created a world where girls like me can participate in sports and be taken seriously.