Before Title IX: The Fight for Fairness in Women's Sports

The Importance of Sports Beyond Winning

Before Title IX, girls and women were often treated as an afterthought in sports. This matters because sports are about far more than just winning games. They teach discipline, leadership, teamwork, commitment, resilience, and courage. Sports help young people learn how to handle pressure, cope with disappointment, respect others, and persevere through challenges. For many girls, sports become a vital space for building confidence and strengthening character.

I know this from personal experience. I was a child with dreams before Title IX fully opened doors for women, and I became an athlete when its impact began to be felt. I understand what sports can offer a young woman. I also recognize the demands of serious competition.

The women who fought for Title IX were not merely asking for better uniforms or more convenient practice times. They were advocating for fairness, opportunity, and respect for girls and women in sports.

Women like Bernice “Bunny” Sandler,

Representative Patsy Takemoto Mink,

Martha Griffiths,

Billie Jean King,

Donna Lopiano, and many others pushed this movement forward. Some worked through Congress, while others filed complaints or testified. They used their voices to show the nation that women’s sports deserved respect.

Their efforts opened doors for millions of girls and women. Thanks to Title IX, more girls had the chance to play. More women earned athletic scholarships, including myself. More female athletes became leaders, coaches, professionals, Olympians, and role models. The impact of Title IX reached far beyond the scoreboard.

The Need for Fairness in Women's Sports

However, fairness must remain at the heart of the conversation. Women’s sports exist because there are real physical differences between male and female athletes. This is not an insult or a political statement; it is a fundamental reason why separate women’s athletic categories were created and protected.

A fair playing field allows athletes to compete based on skill, training, dedication, and effort. Without fairness, competition loses its meaning. This is not about disrespecting anyone; it is about protecting the purpose of women’s sports and honoring the promise of Title IX.

What is happening now in California with the CIF should concern everyone who cares about the future of women’s sports. The CIF is trying to follow California law, but this has created a serious conflict between gender identity policies and the original purpose of Title IX.

Girls should not need a backup rule to protect the opportunities that Title IX was meant to guarantee in the first place. This concern became very real when the California Interscholastic Federation announced a pilot entry process for the 2025 State Track and Field Championships. Under this process, a biological female athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark but did not qualify due to the placement of a transgender athlete was given an opportunity to participate. Recently, a transgender high school athlete, AB Hernandez, competed in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 girls track and field preliminaries in California. She placed first in the triple jump, first in the long jump, and tied for first in the high jump. Her wins have drawn statewide and national attention, becoming part of the larger debate over fairness, inclusion, and the future of girls’ sports in California. CIF stated that it was trying to provide student-athletes with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law. This is wrong!

To me, that raises an important question: If additional rules must be created to ensure girls are not displaced, then are we still protecting the original purpose of women’s sports? This is not a small question. It goes directly to the heart of Title IX.

The Importance of Open Dialogue

This is why women and girls must be allowed to speak openly. Female athletes should not be dismissed when they raise concerns about fairness. They should not be talked down to when they express worries about safety. They should not be told they are not strong enough, brave enough, or competitive enough simply because they believe women’s sports should remain fair for women.

A woman can be strong and still ask for fairness. A woman can be courageous and still recognize physical reality. A woman can respect others and still believe women’s sports deserve protection.

For me, this issue comes back to integrity.

If we believe in fairness, we must be willing to protect it. If we believe in courage, we must let women speak honestly. If we believe in respect, that respect must include the girls and women who worked tirelessly to earn their place in sports.

The Legacy of Title IX

Title IX was one of the most important steps forward for women in American athletics. Its promise was simple: girls and women deserve a fair opportunity. That promise still matters. Women’s sports were created for a reason. They still matter. And the girls coming up behind us deserve the same fair chance that so many women fought to make possible.

In conclusion, we must continue to advocate for fairness in women’s sports. The fight for equality is ongoing. We owe it to the next generation to ensure that they have the same opportunities that we were given. Let’s stand together and protect the legacy of Title IX.

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