Where Were You in 1972?
by Team Athleta • Jun 23rd, 2009 • Category: Share Your ChiOn this day in 1972, Congress passed Title IX, the civil rights law authored by Patsy T. Mink, prohibiting discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities. Although the law didn’t reference athletic programs specifically, Title IX is revered for opening the door for women to participate in high school and collegiate athletics.
To commemorate the anniversary of Title IX, we’d love to hear from Chi readers — how did the passage of Title IX impact you or your loved ones? Here’s what some of our in-house athletes had to say…
I am grateful for all of the women who pioneered the way for the rest of us. I just reached my 40th birthday and I’ve pretty much been blessed with the opportunity to explore athletics all of my life.
There is one thing though that sticks out for me:
I love running the Boston Marathon. There’s something magical about that race. It has history and tradition. And part of that reminds me that a pioneer named Katherine Switzer ran the race in 1967 against the rules of a male only race. It was thought that running that distance wasn’t good for a woman. Then in 1972, they changed the rules – women could officially enter Boston. Thanks to Katherine and many other women like her, we don’t have to fight the gender battle. We can do the training, qualify, and show up to the starting line. In my lifetime, women weren’t allowed to run Boston. That just seems crazy and wrong!!! I can’t imagine my life without athletics!!!!
—Tracy, Merchandising Product Manager
I hate to give away my age, but… just after the title IX passage I entered 8th grade. I was the first in my family of 5 girls to get to play soccer, basketball, and participate in track. It was amazing to be exposed to those at a time when my body was changing, emotionally I was moving away from “play” but not yet an adult. It was the perfect way to transition from childhood to being an adult.
—Karen, Technical Designer
Well, I have to admit that I wasn’t born in 1972 (close though – I shall not tell!), but I’ve heard my Mom talk about how different things were when she was growing up. All I can say is that I’m grateful to those who came before me. Those who enabled my volleyball and basketball years. Those who allowed myself and other women of my age to embrace athletics and the healthy lifestyle that goes hand-in-hand.
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I graduated from high in 1972 and never had the opportunity to participate in sports in middle or high school other than in an extra curricular activity call GAA (Girls Athletic Association. I’m grateful for Title IX because my daughter was able to play soccer, volleyball, basketball, and softball throughout her middle and high school years being named Senior Athlete of 2000. She went on to play college volleyball and now married and a teacher, has become a runner as well. I’m very proud of her and so happy she had the opportunities Title IX provided!
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I was born in 1972, and I am so grateful to those who opened the doors so that I could grow up thinking that I could do anything. Now that I am raising my daughter, I am thrilled every time her jaw drops at some shocking tale of the bad ol’ days when a woman’s place and abilities were prescribed and limited. Thanks to those who fought for our rights, a woman’s place is in a world where she can achieve that for which she strives.
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I guess I was 13, and just a couple years later, I joined the boys cross country team and man was that ever fun. I have three brothers so I felt very at home on that team perhaps moreso than my days of hockey, lacrosse, girl’s track…..I’m very grateful for Title IX and the opportunities it has unleashed for all girls and young women. It’s great to celebrate our journey!
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I just had to share, I was really moved to find out how involved Charles Schulz was in Womens Sport Foundation, thought some would find it interesting
LEGENDARY CARTOONIST CHARLES M. SCHULZ RECOGNIZED WITH THE WOMEN’S SPORTS FOUNDATION® BILLIE JEAN KING CONTRIBUTION AWARD
NEW YORK, October 16, 2000 – In recognition of his numerous contributions to advance women’s sports, Charles M. Schulz has been awarded the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Billie Jean King Contribution Award. The award will be presented at the Foundation’s 21st Annual Salute to Women In Sports Awards gala tonight at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. Although he is best known for his comic strip, Peanuts, Schulz was a pioneer and advocate for women’s sports throughout his 50-year career.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Schulz was one of the select few who sought to educate the American public about the importance of Title IX and the discrimination that girls and women faced in sports. Ultimately, he helped change public perception of female sports participation by tackling the sensitive issue of gender discrimination with humor. Schulz’s characters such as Peppermint Patty, a great athlete, and Lucy, always an active participant, not only expressed his incredible creativity, they also communicated his views.
Schulz’s enthusiastic involvement in and passion for women’s sports led him to become friends with tennis legend and Foundation Founder Billie Jean King. Their friendship, coupled with Schulz’s belief in equality for women in sports, led to his appointment to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees (1982-1987). He also served as and will remain an Honorary Trustee of the Foundation. Schulz was the first person to give a major gift to the Foundation, donating $150,000 in 1985. This substantial gift paved the way for future major giving to the Foundation and demonstrated his unwavering belief that there should be equal opportunities for girls and women in sports.
“I am deeply honored to accept this award on behalf of Sparky, a dear friend of mine and a long-time proponent of women’s sports,” said King. “Through his Peanuts comic strip, he reached millions of people worldwide with the message that everyone, regardless of gender, should be given equal opportunity to participate in sports.”
Named in honor of Foundation Founder Billie Jean King, the award is presented annually to a corporation, organization or individual who has made a significant contribution to the development of women’s sports. Some of the greatest female athletes of the past and present, including King, will honor Schulz at the dinner.
Over 100 champion female athletes from the past and present are expected to attend the Women’s Sports Foundation’s awards dinner, which will be the first and largest gathering of U.S. female Olympians after the 2000 Olympic Games. Gatorade, General Motors and Get Real Girl will co-present the event as part of their initiatives to encourage the development and participation of girls and women in sports. Their support of the gala will help the Foundation raise close to $1 million for grassroots programming for girls’ sports.
Founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women’s Sports Foundation is a charitable educational organization dedicated to increasing the participation of girls and women in sports and fitness and creating an educated public that supports gender equity in sport. The Foundation’s Participation, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership programs are made possible by individual and corporate contributions. The Foundation is located in Nassau County, N.Y. For more information, please call the Foundation at 800-227-3988 or visit http://www.WomensSportsFoundation.org or AOL Keyword: WSF.
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I was the first girl to play hardball, baseball on a boys team. Only three girls tried out. I was hit on the arm at bat, did not cry, and then the next pitch hit it out and played first base all season. Very fun experience!
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I was very much a tomboy when I was a young girl, being the 4th child of 5 siblings with a brother on either side of me. I ended up hanging with all the boys in the neighborhood following my brothers wherever they went and usually taking a beating for it because they didn’t want a girl tagging along. They did all the fun things like dirt clod fights, building forts, taking hikes and building go-carts. When they joined sports teams, I complained loudly because there was no sports teams for me to join. I remember being so excited to attend the first meeting to form the very first softball league for girls and then being disappointed that I had to wait 2 months for the season to start. It was a start, but I quickly recognized that it was not equitable between the sexes. When I started high school in 1975 it was only the third year since title IX and there were still huge gaps. I would go to track meets and there would only be 1 field event for the women and 5 for the men. I remember asking to do the pole vault and was told that women did not have enough upper body strength to do it. Now it is an Olympic event for women. I was the first girl in my school to use the weight room. I remember going in there and getting the stare down and being told it was for boys only. I just ignored them and soon became a regular fixture and was bench pressing more than the boys. I had to fight with the administration and my PE teacher to not have to lift weights in class on meet day, when the male football players received that privilege on game days without question. I was the first girl in my school to throw the javelin and had the school record in the discus and shot put events. My friend and I caused a big stir when we asked to join the wrestling team and now it is offered for both boys and girls at junior high schools and above. I remember receiving a letter from NOW because I was the first girl paper carrier in Petaluma, CA. I did not realize then the importance of that recognition, but now, I am proud to have helped pave the way for my daughters.
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I gave birth to my daughter in 1972. I never had the opportunity to participate in athletics when I was growing up. Girls sports just didn’t exist outside of an occasional gym class. I’m thrilled that my daughter was able to swim on the varsity swim team in high school. It was an important connection for her, even into her first year in college. And I’m proud to say that I completed my first triathlon this summer and went on to complete a second before the summer was over. I’m 61 years old and not too old to become an athlete. Looking forward to next summer’s challenges. Just catching up!
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