The S.H.E. Network

Patsy Mink

Patsy Mink was one of the principal authors of the Education Amendments of 1972, largely referred to as Title IX, which was later renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, after her death in 2002.

As the first Asian American woman and woman of color to serve on the United States Congress, she battled gender discrimination and racism from the very start.

What is Title IX?

Whenever you see a woman score a soccer goal think of Patsy Mink. Whenever you see a girl shoot the winning basket think of Edith Green. And whenever you see the words “Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,” know that four decades ago none of that existed. It wouldn’t exist even today if had not been for the perseverance and determination of Title IX pioneers, including Birch Bayh, former WSF Trustee Lillian Greene-Chamberlain, the first president of WSF Donna de Varona and other champions of the groundbreaking legislation.

“Boys Will be Boys,” an Excuse No Longer? Part 2

Is it fair to expect women athletes to display superior morals and ethics? Are women penalized to a greater extent when they violate the code of conduct? How do these double standards affect women in sports?

“Boys Will be Boys,” an Excuse No Longer? Part 1

Is it fair to expect women athletes to display superior morals and ethics? Are women penalized to a greater extent when they violate the code of conduct? How do these double standards affect women in sports?

President Obama talks Title IX, the importance girls' sports

Earlier this month, ESPN.com senior writer Andy Katz spoke with President Barack Obama about the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments, Title IX and sports in general during a visit to the White House.