A look at Title IX Personal Story

By Jake April

The data regarding the adoption and implementation of Title IX, a federal legislation passed in 1972 that requires all educational institutions receiving federal aid to ensure equal funding for women's athletic programs, tells one part of the story.

The other part of the story is how this legislation has changed the lives of young women over the past 50 years. Access to athletic programs and scholarships for women provides opportunities for social and emotional development, as well as higher-paying jobs both within and outside the athletic realm.

Shannon Hogan, a New York Islanders reporter, and Jana Rabinowitz, founder of Fundamental Wellness, a company that creates groups and promotes independence for individuals facing challenges, both credit the lessons they learned from sports as a significant factor in their professional success.

Shannon Hogan smiling for the camera at UBS arena in front of Islanders TV set.

Donna Hogan in a brunette hair and orange sweater in front of the Nassau Colliseum.

Photo Credit: Msg.com

For Hogan, the intricacies of the law were unfamiliar until her sophomore year of high school. The future swimmer for both the University of Virginia Cavaliers and the Missouri Tigers first encountered it when she read about the discontinuation of the men’s swim team at Kansas University in 2001. While coming down for dinner, Hogan was visibly stirred.

"Mom, can you believe they're canceling the University of Kansas men’s swimming program because of this silly thing called Title IX?"

"I was a sophomore in high school and I mistakenly referred to it as 'I X' instead of 'nine'," she told her mother. Looking Hogan straight in the eyes, her mother responded, “You’re going to get a college scholarship because of Title IX.” Hogan later wrote about this in an article on msgnetworks.com titled "A Thank You to My Mom on International Women’s Day" in 2017.

That night, the curious teenager delved into understanding the fundamentals of Title IX.

“My mother, Donna, was part of the movement that aimed to create equal opportunities for women," Hogan explained in the same article.

While Hogan's mother could only dream about receiving an athletic scholarship or even competing, Hogan not only received a scholarship but also top-notch athletic gear. All her mother had during her high school basketball years was a pinny.

“My mom wore a pinny until her senior year when her coach, Mr. Beck, bought jerseys for the entire girls’ basketball team,” Hogan remembers.

"I always knew progress was being made with the women’s movement, but it wasn’t clear to me that these opportunities would be available. I grew up in a house where my parents encouraged me to be myself. I’m profoundly grateful for that. Consequently, my aspiration was to be part of a regional broadcast and a team," Hogan reflects.

She adds, "About a decade ago, I attended broadcast meetings in New York City where I was one of only a handful of women present."

The latest broadcast meetings have evident changes, likely influenced by Title IX and other equality-driven legislation. "We recently met, and not only were there more women but there were also more people of color,” Hogan observed. “I think the league and various teams are sincerely advocating for this.”

The central message is that women, thanks to these changes, not only have more opportunities but also better representation, as noted by the reporter.

“I believe this will only elevate the sport,” Hogan opined.

In 1972, Simpson College offered no sports for women, as per a 2022 article by Flynn on thesimpsonian.com.

The progress since then has been remarkable. A graph from 2019-2020 vividly illustrates the evolution of women’s college sports. Of 524 students involved in sports, 207 are female—amounting to less than 50%. However, the budget for women's sports at Simpson College surpasses that of men's sports by $33,037. This discrepancy might be an effort to draw more female athletes, in line with Title IX, or perhaps to atone for the years when women had no sporting opportunities.

Regardless of how they're compared to men, Hogan hopes young girls will remember one of her life's pivotal lessons: be thankful for what you have. Even if the path is a bit more treacherous for women, they too can navigate it with grace.

Jana Rabinowitz is wearing a black shirt and posing in front of the camera. The blonde is smiling in front of a blue backdrop. She is a health and fitness coach and founder of Fundamental Wellness.

source: LinkedIn Profile Picture of Jana Rabinowitz, Founder of Fundamental Wellness

Rabinowitz recalls that during her time at John F. Kennedy High School in the Plainview school district, she was a member of the kickline team, an experience that was crucial to her success professionally. She learned how to communicate non-verbally with her teammates, she said.

The ability to communicate was essential to avoid injury and coordinate the routines. Today, she has been able to put those skills to use again, working with and coaching individuals with autism. “

“We work with the general public—everybody, but I think when we work with somebody with special needs, we learn how to communicate without words and my experience with Kickline has enabled me to do that effectively.”

Virginia Wade, a world-renowned professional tennis player who won three championships, including the first in the Open era (both professionals and amateurs participated and won prize money,) she won the U.S. OPEN  versus Billie Jean King.

Rabinowitz’s high school experience as a member of the kickline team at John F. Kennedy High School in the Plainview school district was more than just about dancing; it was a lesson in non-verbal communication. The synchronized movements and routines required her to understand and respond to her teammates without uttering a word, a skill that not only protected them from injuries but also ensured their performances were flawlessly coordinated.

Years later, this ability to communicate non-verbally has proven invaluable in her work with individuals with autism. Communication can often be a challenge for those with autism, with many finding it easier to convey their feelings and intentions without using words. Rabinowitz has tapped into her kickline experience to bridge this gap, providing understanding and support in a way that resonates with them.

Working with those with special needs has only reinforced the idea that communication isn't solely about words. Sometimes, the most powerful messages are those that are unspoken.

Virginia Wade, wearing a white shirt with red collar, is about to hit the tennis ball heading her way. Virginia Wade picture

Game winning point of the US Open in 1968. The video above shows Virginia Wade hitting a ball on her forehand in front of the net to win the US Open.

Wade has seen stark differences in women’s sports on a professional level due to Title IX. In part thanks to her rival, Billie Jean King.

"In 1955, Billie Jean King was excluded from a group photo of junior tennis players because she had chosen to wear tennis shorts that day, instead of the tennis skirt traditionally worn by female athletes. King quickly realized that the unequal treatment female athletes faced wasn't limited to just dress code." (billiejeanking.com). Largely due to King’s advocacy for equality, which included testifying in Washington, equal pay has become a standard in the sport (billiejeanking.com).

Wade shared her perspective on the financial evolution: "Now, the money involved is so significant that it serves as a tremendous incentive for young players to join the sport.” When Wade won the US Open in 1968, the prize money for women was $42,300, while it was $98,700 for men. In 2022, both genders received a prize of $60,000,000, as reported by tenniscompanion.org.

This parity in prize money represents a significant step forward, especially considering that many other women's sports still face such disparities. In a survey of male and female athletes from Long Island high schools, the results are as follows:

Wade explains her thoughts on the monetary changes: “Now I mean, money is so phenomenal that it’s such an incentive for youngsters to get into the sport.”

When Wade won the US Open in 1968, the prize money was $42,300 for women, compared to $98,700 for men. In 2022, both parties took home a purse of $60,000,000,” according to tenniscompanion.org.

The change in the monetary value – making the prize money equal is an enormous step in the right direction because it is still a struggle in other women’s sports. Taking a survey of males and females around Long Island that play high school sports, the numbers are shown below.

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Chart created with Canva by Jake April