Geena Davis, Academy-Award-winning actor and Foundation trustee urges parents, coaches and teachers aware of Title IX violations to document concerns and share with school leaders and media.
On March 29, 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the Jackson v. Birmingham case in which a male coach who was fired because he tried to get the same facilities and treatment for the girls he coached that the boys had long enjoyed was told by a lower court that he couldn't sue as a whistleblower because the word “retaliation” didn't appear in the Title IX statute. In its decision, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote for the majority, "Retaliation against a person because that person has complained of sex discrimination is another form of intentional sex discrimination.” She acknowledged that coaches such as Jackson are often in the best position to vindicate the rights of their students because they can see bias and bring it to the attention of administrators. O'Connor said that even though Congress did not explicitly cover retaliation in Title IX, it sought expansive prohibition against sex bias.
Women's Sports Foundation CEO Donna Lopiano called upon parents, coaches, teachers and athletes to document their Title IX discrimination concerns in writing. “Each year, the Women's Sports Foundation's 800 number receives hundreds of calls from distressed parents who are afraid to raise Title IX concerns because they fear retaliation against their athlete daughters – loss of scholarship assistance, being benched and/or harassment by boys' teams whose coaches tell them that because the girls are raising equal treatment issues they will lose financial support or current benefits. They don't want their children to suffer, but they want gender equity laws enforced. Similarly, like Coach Jackson in this Supreme Court case, coaches and teachers who want to raise Title IX issues are afraid they are going to lose their jobs or promotions, get poor performance evaluations or be shunned by colleagues coaching male teams. Coaches whisper on the phone because they are calling from their offices and fear being overheard. Even college alumni suffer retaliation. There are colleges who disband established alumni advisory councils when they raise Title IX issues. These people who care about their daughters and students want to know if someone else can bring concerns forward. This decision is important because it directly addresses this climate of fear.”
Geena Davis, a Foundation trustee, is a strong Title IX advocate who established or call toll-free 1-800-227-3988. For further information on recent Department of Education actions to weaken Title IX, contact the Women's Sports Foundation.
About the Women's Sports FoundationFounded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization seeking to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. The Foundation's Participation, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership programs are made possible by individual and corporate contributions. The Foundation is located in Nassau County, N.Y. For more information, please call the Foundation at 800-227-3988.