The NCAA Hall of Champions is offering a new exhibit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX. The Title IX at 50 timeline display tracks the history of the landmark legislation's impact on women's sports.
"It's important for people to know the history of gender equity and Title IX in sports and how we got where we are today," said Amy Wilson, NCAA managing director of the office of inclusion. "There are so many moments and significant figures to celebrate and from whom to learn. We're excited to offer this resource to educate and inspire visitors from across the country."
The actual piece of legislation, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, encompasses more than sports. The new display highlights the law's emphasis on education and how that emphasis impacted the college sports NCAA student-athletes play today.
The timeline tracks the beginning of the movement to prohibit discrimination based on sex in educational settings in the 1960s, to the signing of Title IX in 1972, to the important individuals and moments that pushed the movement forward and the struggles that held it back in the 1980s and 1990s, to the growth of the legislation's influence on sports and other settings from the 2000s to today.
"Another advantage of preserving the legislation's history in this way is to hold each other accountable," Wilson said. "It's vital that we don't repeat the same mistakes of the past. What can we all do to keep the movement for equity progressing?"
The NCAA's Title IX at 50 celebration will offer programs and tributes culminating at the 2023 Women's Final Four in Dallas, where Divisions I, II and III will hold their basketball championships.
Visit ncaa.org/titleix50 for more details on the NCAA's Title IX at 50 celebration, including a toolkit that provides resources for member schools and conferences to use in their campus and community celebrations. Later this spring, a Title IX at 50 report will detail the progress that has been made over the past 50 years and the areas that continue to need attention.
Plan your visit to the NCAA Hall of Champions at ncaahallofchampions.org.
