Leigh Fondakowski is a New York-based writer and director. Fonda Kowski, headwriter of The Laramie Project and an emmy-nominated co-writer for HBO Films and Laramie's film adaptation, is the author of the book"The Story from Jonestown". And the Frequency Machine podcast producer"Feminist File: The Story of the Secret Origins of Title IX", this essay was adopted. The views expressed in this commentary belong to the author. See moreOpinionson CNN.
(CNN)June 23, 1972,Part of the lawquietly advances to President Richard Nixon's desk is. The large omnibus education bill contained the 37 words that make up Title IX. This is a groundbreaking civil rights law that bansgender discrimination in federally funded schools and other educational programs.
For two years, my collaborators and I studied these women working under radar in Washington, DC, organized them to pass Title IX, and the problem. The movement was created by holding a hearing to clarify. Gender inequality.
I was born in 1969. For my generation, Title IX was synonymous with women's sports. In later generations, the school's Title IX office was known as a place to report cases of sexual harassment and assault. Gwendolyn Mink, daughter of Patsy Mink, said, "Title IX is not an order. It's a promise. But those who suffer from discrimination must speak out. What are their rights for all generations? We need to know how we can make the lives of girls and women, and boys and men more equitable in education. "
With Mink on the committee, Green sought to tackle sexism in education, but she didn't feel she was helping to make a significant difference.
The efforts of the four women led to 37 important words in Nixon's education bill. Or be discriminated against under a program or activity that is funded by the federal government. The
system worked as they believed. As they knew.
While celebrating everything achieved by Title IX and looking back at how it will be applied in the future, it's also worth remembering that legislation was born when support for Congress increased. there is. To change society better. Following the 1963 Equal Wages Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and Title IX in 1972.
When Title IX was passed, Sandler told me that sexism would end within a year of its implementation, her great niece Rora Brodwin. Then she changed her predictions to 5 years and then 10. When she was in her late 80s, she said she knew it wasn't her life, but she remained positive that day would come.
Parliamentary factions seem to have obstructed legislation and a majority of the Supreme Court has decided to revoke the progressive heritage of the 1960s and 1970s, and it certainly feels like that today. not. However, the results have not been determined in advance. This is not the case when there are voice supporters who support protecting and advancing the causes of equal rights.
Let's take this opportunity of Title IX's 50th anniversary to celebrate women and men who still believe that our governing body can function. Public policy can lead to major changes. May there be a new dawn and a new day. A functional, ambitious, compassionate and visionary parliament that can change the country for the better.