In my lifetime, no single law has changed the social landscape more than has Title IX, the federal law requiring that girls and women have equal opportunity to participate in athletics. When I was in high school, relatively few girls played sports. The quarterback dated the head cheerleader. Today, just about a generation later, countless girls play high school sports. The quarterback is more likely to date the captain of the girl’s soccer team.

I have friends who only have sons. They complain that Title IX has resulted in fewer athletic scholarship for boys heading to college because of how the U.S. Department of Education has mandated implementation of the law. That may be true. And I have two sons. But Title IX has made this is a much better world for girls entering high school, like my daughter, than girls in high school a generation ago.

It’s also what’s got me nervous tonight. My daughter was recruited to play soccer for one of the top girls high school soccer programs in the country. She was told she would either be varsity or starting on junior varsity. She wasn’t selected for varsity. And tomorrow she finds out if she made junior varsity or is relegated to the freshman squad. She’s done well in camps and tryouts. But, and here’s why Title IX has made me nervous, 80 girls are trying out. 80! I know sports. I know that, despite the very positive promises by a coach, stuff happens in sports.

So I’m nervously thankful for Title IX tonight.

(Blogenberg Bonus Parenting Advice: Don’t watch your son or daughter’s high school tryouts. I’m amazed at how many parents watch. I understand the desire. But they are in high school now.)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 at 9:29 pm and is filed under Politics, Family. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

The trackback URL for this entry is
http://www.blogenberg.com/2008/08/12/title-ix-the-most-powerful-law-ever/
trackback/