Amy: Welcome to Breaking Down Patriarchy! I’m Amy McPhie Allebest. Today’s text is Title IX, which is the most well-known portion of the https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States (United States) https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Education_Amendments_of_1972&action=edit&redlink=1 (Education Amendments, passed in 1972). This is an incredibly important piece of legislation, and we’re going to get into its history, the way it impacts people’s lives, and the way it is or isn’t enforced effectively. All of this based on just one sentence. And just so listeners are aware, we are going to be talking about sexual assault later in the episode - not a graphic description, but a true story on a sensitive and difficult topic, so please be advised of that. Before we begin our discussion, I want to introduce my reading partner for today, Whitney McPhie Griffith. Hi, Whitney! Whitney: Hi, Amy! Amy: Whitney and I are sisters, and we have had the great fortune of living near each other several times in our lives, but sadly we live far away from each other right now. So it’s been so wonderful to work on this project together. I’m so very grateful that you were willing to talk about Title IX and share your experience and your wisdom. Thank you so much for doing this.
Whitney: I’m happy to be here!
Amy: So could you tell us a little about yourself? Where you come from, who you are, etc.?
Whitney: Yep! I’m from Colorado, mostly. I lived in many different places, but I spent my childhood in CO, then slowly made my way to the west coast. My husband and I moved to Portland from California two years ago, and I really really love it here. I’m a pianist and multidisciplinary artist, and I’m currently working on a graphic design degree. My husband started a company a couple years ago, so I’m also a sort of creative director, editor, photographer, digital content manager, web designer, morale coach, etc for his company. It’s fun.
Amy: And then I also like to ask my reading partners what interested them in this project. What brought you to Breaking Down Patriarchy?
Whitney: I love breaking down patriarchy! I think it’s so important to discuss what patriarchy is-- a complex topic that I don’t think is understood well enough. I’m grateful to join you in this conversation on Title IX, as I have some personal experience with it.
Amy: Thanks so much, Whit. Again, I’m so grateful to have you here today and to hear your perspective as we talk about this document.
So we are going to structure our conversation by explaining Title IX itself, talking about who the major players were in getting Title IX passed, and what its impacts have been. So Whit, could you start us off by explaining a bit about Title IX?
Whitney: Sure!
The official website of the US Department of Education says:
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
Then it goes on to talk about the scope of Title IX:
“Title IX applies to institutions that receive federal financial assistance from the Department of Education, including state and local educational agencies.
Educational programs and activities that receive Department of Education funds must operate in a nondiscriminatory manner. Some key issue areas in which recipients have Title IX obligations are: recruitment, admissions, and counseling; financial assistance; athletics; sex-based harassment; treatment of pregnant and parenting students; discipline; single-sex education; and employment.”
Amy: Thanks, Whit. So any listeners who heard the episode on the book, Keep the Damned Women Out, about United States universities excluding women from educational opportunities, will know why this legislation was needed. And you...