What Sports Mean to Women
SELF magazine
Most of us grew up with plenty of chances to participate in school sports. For those of us who played, athletics taught us teamwork, patience and grace.
Women didn't always have the same opportunity. Saturday marks the 40th anniversary of Title IX, part of the federal Education Amendment of 1972 that made it illegal for schools to discriminate against or exclude people from activities or events based on their gender. In other words, girls could no longer be denied participating in something, like a school sports team, just because they were girls.
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What Sports Mean to Women
Before Title IX, only one in 27 female students participated in high-school sports, according to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Now, that number is more than one in three. But Title IX's impact extends far beyond the playground: Since Title IX was enacted, more women receive athletic scholarships to college, go on to become professional athletes, and represent our country in the Olympic Games.
More importantly, though, is Title IX's impact on women's non-athletic lives: Studies have shown that girls who participate in sports have better grades and lower teen pregnancy rates. A few have even found links between Title IX specifically and higher education, better employment, and lower obesity rates among women, years after they'd left school.
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What Sports Mean to You
"When I play sports, I feel badass," tweeted @beth140point6. "Exhilarated," says @OBrightShanna. "STRONG," say @Bev367 and @WhyNotGirlNow.
@Batescn says "When I play sports, I feel where I belong!!" @Livwhole feels "empowered - like I can overcome any challenge!" And @blondeponytail agrees: playing sports makes her feel "unstoppable."
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Finally, we love this numerically appropriate sentiment from @15loveapparel: "We are all about having fun ... and when we play sports we feel like we are on #CloudNine."
On Saturday, do something to celebrate the anniversary of this momentous occasion: Grab your girlfriends for an impromptu soccer game, lace up your running shoes, or cheer on a neighborhood softball game. And join the conversation, by tweeting us today with the #PowerOfNine hashtag. Tell us: How does playing sports make you feel?
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