November 16, 2018: The Women’s Sports Foundation, like Title IX, exists to ensure all girls and women have equal access to opportunities that will help them reach their full potential. The Department of Education’s proposed changes to Title IX further entrench the historical discrimination against women and girls that the law was created to combat. In fact, Secretary DeVos’ “more balanced approach” isn’t balanced at all. Rather than strengthening protections, the proposed changes would narrow the definition of sexual harassment and assault and reduce schools’ responsibility to safeguard their students. In doing this, the secretary is inherently putting students – mostly girls and women – at further risk.
This year has shown us the immense courage required of survivors who come forward with their stories. DeVos’ changes would risk seeing many survivors step back into the shadows.
All students deserve to feel safe in the places where they learn. The Women’s Sports Foundation stands with all those who have survived sexual assault. We remain as committed as ever to creating a world where girls and women are uninhibited in the pursuit of their dreams, athletic, academic or otherwise.