Finding common political ground among Americans has become increasingly tough. Yet, some issues do seem to unite people. Take women’s sports, for instance. Numerous polls indicate that a significant majority, regardless of their political views, do not support the idea of allowing faster and stronger men to compete in women’s events and private spaces.
On June 23rd, we will join many people across the nation to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Title IX, continuing our pursuit of necessary protections for women.
Before Title IX was enacted in 1972, opportunities for women and girls in athletics were pretty scarce. Less than 32,000 women participated in college sports, and only around 300,000 girls played in high schools. Moreover, there was no equal access to scholarships or academic programs for women.
Riley Gaines emphasizes that Title IX was intended to safeguard women’s rights, not to dilute them.
Even after Title IX was established, progress came slowly. The NCAA, one of the most prominent sports organizations today, didn’t recognize women’s volleyball as a championship sport until 1981, more than a decade later than men’s volleyball. Similarly, the NCAA acknowledged the Women’s Softball Championship that same year, while men’s baseball had its first championship in 1947.
Today, more than 3 million girls participate in high school sports, and over 222,000 are involved in college sports. Yet, this wasn’t always the case. Athletes like basketball player Caitlyn Clark and various Olympic gymnasts owe their professional careers to the groundwork laid by Title IX.
While common sense appears to be prevailing among the public, the opposite seems to be happening in athletics nationwide. Just recently, a man grabbed headlines by winning a girls’ competition in California.
The good news is that the current administration is addressing these issues. Under President Trump’s leadership, the US Department of Education has taken a strong stance. From the start, this administration has sought to protect women’s rights under the federal Civil Rights Act by reversing an illegal interpretation of Title IX introduced during the Biden administration. This includes a presidential order aimed at enforcing protections that prevent men from competing in women’s sports.
The department also stated that states cannot discriminate against girls by allowing men to compete against them, as this not only steals titles and victories but can also endanger female athletes. For instance, Payton McNabb sustained severe injuries while competing with a man who was far more powerful than any female competitor.
This situation is unacceptable.
In light of the specific risks posed to female athletes, the Trump administration has initiated investigations into states like California and Maine for potential violations. Alongside the Department of Justice, they are looking into schools and teams that might be breaching Title IX. Institutions from the Inter-Calif. Governance Foundation to the Minnesota High School League and the University of Maryland are working to uphold Title IX and ensure that unfair competition doesn’t occur. States that don’t comply could face the loss of federal funding if they continue to undermine women’s rights.
This anniversary of Title IX shouldn’t be dragged down by interpretations that minimize the rights of women and girls in favor of male athletes. Instead, it should be a celebration of the progress made by women’s movements nationwide. As a woman who participated in sports before Title IX and who has faced difficulties under recent interpretations, I understand how crucial it is to have laws that support and empower women. We stand with the majority who believe that women deserve fair and safe competition, and finally, under the Trump administration, their voices are getting heard.
Payton McNabb is an independent advocate for women in sports and a former spokesperson for high school athletes across three sports. After a traumatic brain injury ended her athletic future, she turned her ordeal into a source of strength.
