title IX

a small part of an education bill passed 40 years ago, called title IX, made a big difference for women in this country. most women my age and younger don't know what is was like to not have organized sports in public schools available to them, but 40 years ago, that was the case. i wasn't a good athlete (or even physically coordinated) as a kid, but i participated in organized sporting events through my public school without ever stopping to think how lucky i was. i took those opportunities for granted. i played softball, took golf lessons, and played volleyball. everyone knows the benefits of organized sports; it's hard to imagine a time that girls were excluded because girls simply didn't play sports so (or because) they weren't offered.

ahem. anyway. so, title IX:

Title IX is a portion of the education amendments of 1972. tt states (in part) that

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance...

in application, that means sports for girls! and how do we celebrate? by getting sporty! this weekend, my sisters in law and nieces got together for an all-girls 5k to run together in recognition of this important anniversary. it snowed, it was cold, but there we were with at least 1000 other female athletes, running through the downtown streets and bridges of grand rapids, michigan, reminding ourselves and our bodies that we deserve equal opportunities and that we shouldn't take those opportunities for granted.