Gender discrimination is illegal in most schools, but sometimes it still happens. Examples include differences in vocational training programs or athletic activities offered, differences in admission requirements and sexual harassment.
Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972
Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 declares that all educational programs that get any type of federal funding must not discriminate on the basis of gender in any way. All public elementary and secondary schools receive federal funding and so are bound by Title IX. Many private elementary and secondary schools also receive federal funds and therefore are forbidden to discriminate on the basis of gender. Most colleges and universities also receive federal funding, and Title IX also applies to them. If you are not sure if your school, or your child’s school, is bound by Title IX, simply ask someone in the administrative office.
Athletics
Title IX says schools must offer equal opportunities to athletic activities for both male and female students. It also says schools must provide equal resources for both sexes when it comes to athletic activities. This means, for example, schools should not spend more money on sports teams for boys than they do for girls. Of course, in reality, schools often spend much more money on the boys’ football team than they spend on the girls’ field hockey team. Schools often offer many more athletic opportunities for boys than for girls; for instance, boys’ teams may include football, basketball, track and field, swimming and field hockey, while girls’ teams include only basketball, volleyball and field hockey.
Sexual Harassment
Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 forbids sexual harassment in all schools that receive federal funds and says schools must deal with sexual harassment promptly when it does take place. There are laws prohibiting sexual harassment in schools in most states, as well, which apply even in schools not bound by Title IX.
Sexual harassment includes sexual comments, jokes, name calling, unwanted sexual propositions and the display of sexual images as well as unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature. Most schools have policies for addressing sexual harassment; if you’re not sure what the policy is in your school or your child’s school, ask someone in the administrative office. Request a written copy of the policy for your records.
Vocational Programs
Title IX requires schools to allow both male and female students to enroll in all available vocational training programs. However, the American Bar Association points out that male students are more likely to enroll in programs like auto mechanics and electronics and female students are more likely to enroll in programs like child care and cosmetology. The American Bar Association suggests that this isn’t because male students don’t like children or female students aren’t interested in fixing cars, but because of gender stereotyping, inappropriate guidance from school staff and because female students may experience increased amounts of sexual harassment if they enroll in male-dominated programs.
Handling Gender Discrimination
If you believe you or your child have experience gender based discrimination in school, ask about the school’s policy for addressing it in the administrative office. You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights. Call 800-421-3481 to get the address of the Office of Civil Rights that serves your state.
Sources:
American Bar Association. http://www.abanet.org/irr/hr/Fall05/sexdiscriminationhtm.html . Sex Discrimination in Education.
Equal Rights Advocates. http://www.equalrights.org/publications/kyr/shschool.asp . Sexual Harassment at School.
U.S. Dept. of Education. http://www2.ed.gov/policy/rights/guid/ocr/sexoverview.html . Sex Discrimination.
