Latest News

50 Years of Title IX: WSU, Education and Gender

Women’s Basketball | Photo by Monica Brutto | The Wright State Guardian


On June 23, 1972, United States President Richard Nixon signed into law Title IX, which stated that no person shall be excluded from activities or discriminated against in any federally assisted education program. Here is what this law looks like at Wright State University and other educational institutions. 

Title IX at Wright State

JJ Jenkins, vice president of compliance at Wright State, discussed the importance of Title IX regarding education in the university.

“At a high level, really what Title IX does and what the intent was, is that it ensures that nobody is excluded from receiving an education and the educational benefits that go with that, regardless of gender,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins works in the Title IX office with Jessica Routley, the interim Title IX coordinator at WSU. Routley discussed the true intent of the amendment as well as other areas of college life that the title touches on.

“[The intent] is equal access for everyone to their education and all the benefits that come with education, [which] includes athletics, it includes clubs, any kind of activities that are sponsored through the university,” Routley said.

Title IX also includes protections for pregnant people, which, according to Jenkins, is something that was not the case in the past.

“In high school, they had to separate paths and colleges, you know, and kind of push people to the side, and Title IX changed a lot of that for pregnant women as well,” Jenkins commented.

Title IX in primary education

In November 2018, the Department of Education proposed regulations relating to compliance of Title IX rules in K-12 education. Many of these new policies governed equality in athletics and how schools responded to sexual harassment and assault. Jenkins discussed the importance of Title IX in K-12 schools. 

“Ensuring kids are aware, that they have equal opportunity, that there are people out there that can help them if they’ve been harassed, whatever it comes down to, both leaving high school [and] coming into the university level, just making sure people are aware of those things, I think would be beneficial,” Jenkins said.

Seeking equality in gender

In June 2022, the U.S. Department of Education confirmed Title IX protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In December 2022, the Ohio Board of Education rejected this measure by a vote of 10-7.

While this can be tough on the LGBTQIA+ community, Jenkins said that even the discussion of these changes shows progress. 

“As part of that is determined by the proposed regulations, that’s something 20 to 25 years ago wouldn’t have been considered for these regulations,” Jenkins said.

With this outlook in mind, Routley discussed the hope for Title IX moving forward. 

“I think one of the things that I hope to see in the future is equality of outcomes. So, more equal pay, equal positions, things like that, for all genders. It should just be across the board the same, regardless of what your gender is,” Routley said.Those interested in learning more about Wright State’s Title IX policy or volunteer opportunities can visit the school website here.


Verified by MonsterInsights