With the recent decision by U.S. Soccer to pay men and women equally, the New-York Historical Society’s exhibit “Title IX: Activism On and Off the Field” (through Sept. 4) looks particularly prescient. The exhibit commemorates the 50th anniversary of Title IX, an addition to the Education Amendments Act of 1972 that fundamentally reshaped American society by prohibiting discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal assistance. Best known for its twin flashpoints of sports and sexual harassment, Title IX covers a swath of American educational life, from kindergarten through 12th grade to higher education, thanks to activists and lawmakers determined to secure the advantages of education for all students. On view in the Joyce B. Cowin Women’s History Gallery, the exhibition immerses visitors in the spaces shaped most profoundly by the legislation and highlights the crucial work of activists in demanding that their institutions and government live up to the law’s promises.
“Fifty years ago, with just a few words, the federal government sought to prevent discrimination in education on the basis of sex,” said Louise Mirrer, Ph.D., New-York Historical’s president and CEO. “As our latest exhibition from the Center for Women’s History demonstrates, the path leading up to the creation of Title IX and the subsequent years since its passage have been full of successes and obstacles – with activists advocating for equal opportunities in the classroom and on the field and protection from sexual harassment. We hope visitors will be inspired by the history on display as they consider how they, too, can contribute to a more just future.”
For more, visit nyhistory.org.
