Title IX Protections for Women

Title IX is a really important law that helps protect women from discrimination and harassment, you know? It was passed in 1972 and says that any school or college that gets federal money can’t discriminate against women. This law has done a lot to help women get equal treatment in education. But even now, 50 years later, there are still some issues around how Title IX gets enforced and how well it protects gals. Let’s break it down!

What Title IX Covers

There are a few key areas where Title IX protects chicks:

• Getting into college or school programs. Title IX means women gotta have the same opportunities to apply and get accepted.
• Financial aid and scholarships. Schools can’t give more aid to dudes or use gender to decide who gets scholarships.
• Classes and housing. Title IX means gals should be able to take all the same classes as guys, and they gotta have equal access to housing and facilities.
• Sports. This is a big one! Title IX led to way more opportunities for chicks to play sports in school.
• Sexual harassment and assault. Schools have to investigate harassment and assault claims. This is important but also controversial (more on that later).

That’s the basics — no discrimination based on gender. But even though we’ve had Title IX for 50 years, schools don’t always get it right. Keep reading to learn more!

Recent Changes and Controversies

The rules and enforcement around Title IX have gone back and forth over the years. Here are some key things that have happened recently:

• In 2020, new regulations were put in place by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. These rules were criticized for making it harder to investigate sexual harassment and assault claims.
• In 2021, President Biden and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said they wanted to rewrite the rules again to better protect students.
• In 2022, new proposed regulations were released. They would expand schools’ responsibilities to address harassment and take action to support victims.

These changes back and forth create uncertainty for schools and students. There’s also been lots of debate around due process for the accused and how to balance this with supporting victims. It’s complicated! There are reasonable arguments on both sides.

How to File a Title IX Complaint

If you feel your school has discriminated against you or not properly addressed harassment, you can file a Title IX complaint. Here’s how it works:

1. Report the issue to your school’s Title IX coordinator. All schools have to have one.
2. The school must investigate your complaint through their grievance process. This should include interviewing witnesses, gathering evidence, etc.
3. You can appeal if you disagree with the outcome. The school’s process should explain how.
4. If still not satisfied, you can file a complaint with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

Some key tips: Document everything, stay engaged in the process, and know your rights. You can also look into getting a Title IX lawyer – they can advise you through the process.