Today marks the 26th National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Title IX played a key role in bringing such a day to fruition. Ask some more seasoned women if they can remember playing sports growing up. Some may say there were no girls teams, some girls played on the boys teams and some played on a girls team that was underfunded.
Luckily, Title IX was established in 1972 as part of the Educational Amendments. It reads:
“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….”
Girls now have no qualms about being athletes. They see women in the media who are basketball stars, snowboarders, runners and wrestlers. The benefits of playing sports pay off during an individual’s lifetime.
Back in 2010, Vision 2020 staffers shared their thoughts about what playing sports did for them.
“You learn perseverance, time-management and team spirit,” noted a Vision 2020 staffer who skied, played field hockey, took part in competitive sailing and also was a runner.
Read the other staff comments and tell Vision 2020 how playing sports has helped you or someone you know in the comments below.
Vision 2020: Equality in Sight 