Mother "Scores" Victory in Publicity Equity
A mother contacted the Foundation in response to her daughter's high school's treatment of its female athletes. Her primary concern was that the publicity and support for the girls' basketball team was not equal to that of the boys. Unlike at the boys' games, the cheerleaders do not performed at the girls' games, nor does the school charge admission for the girls' games. The mother has been onto our Web site and reviewed
Playing Fair and a
Step by Step Guide to Gender Equity. She followed the steps in the guide and has met with the athletic director, school superintendent and school board. None of these entities responded to these issues. The Advocacy Department encouraged her to continue applying pressure to the school and to contact her state Title IX coordinator and file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights.
Success:The mother's actions worked! She filed Title IX complaints against every school in her daughter's league, and for the majority the OCR determined that the school must provide the cheerleaders at girls' and boys' athletic events in an equivalent manner.
Geena's Hero:Rosie, basketball parent
New York
Parent Changes Sex-Segregated School Policy
A mother contacted the Foundation to find out how she could combat an unfair rule in her daughter's middle school. The school will not allow her daughter to try out for the football team next year because she is female. The Advocacy Department advised her that the Fourteenth Amendment requires the school to allow girls to try out for boys' teams. We sent her
Playing Fair and
Coed Participation-Girls Playing on Boys' Teams and Male Versus Female Competition and advised her to assess her school's compliance with Title IX using our online School Report Card. The Advocacy Department also recommended she follow our
Step by Step Guide to Gender Equity.
Success:“I have accomplished what I set out to do. The county school system is changing their rules and will let girls participate/try out for football. I fought and won, and I am so happy.”
Geena's Hero:Cheryl, football parent
Tennessee
Read more Success Stories.