What is Title IX?
Signed on June 23, 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities receiving federal funding. The majority of primary, secondary and higher education institutions in the United States receive federal financial assistance.
Since 1972, Title IX has become an important civil rights law. One lasting impact of Title IX is that the law afforded women access to the same athletic opportunities as men in educational settings. Title IX greatly expanded women’s participation in sports.
In 1977, Catherine MacKinnon created a framework defining sexual harassment as a form of discrimination based on sex. Soon after, MacKinnon’s framework was used in Alexander v. Yale, putting forth the legal argument that sexual harassment is a form of discrimination prohibited under Title IX. While the case was dismissed, it resulted in educational institutions establishing grievance procedures for sexual harassment. Generations of student activists have subsequently advocated for programs to prevent and address sexual violence and harassment in educational institutions across the U.S.
In 2015, Gavin Grimm, a transgender student, sued his school board, alleging its policy of prohibiting him from using the boys' bathroom violated Title IX and the equal protection clause of the Constitution. A federal judge in Virginia ruled in his favor in 2018. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the ruling in his favor in August 2020.
In addition to sexual harassment, the scope of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX includes discrimination based on:
- sex stereotypes
- sex characteristics
- pregnancy or related conditions
- sexual orientation
- gender identity (including the protection of transgender and non-binary people from discrimination)
Recent developments in Title IX
- Title IX regulations were most recently amended in 2020, under the previous administration. UC opposed many of the regulations issued at that time.
- In 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14021 – Guaranteeing an Educational Environment Free From Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Including Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, prompting a comprehensive review of the 2020 amendments.
- On June 23, 2022, the federal Department of Education (DOE) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Title IX. DOE released proposed changes to the regulations for public comment. As the UC Office of the President said in a statement, “the proposed rules represent a great improvement over the regulations issued by the previous administration in 2020.”
- Until the Title IX regulations are amended, the 2020 regulations are still in place. Please refer to the updated Title IX Q&A document for more information
UC Berkeley Title IX-Related Resources and Information
Credit: Department of Education & USPS
Credit: Chase Carter
Credit: Geoff Livingston
Support
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PreventionTo get involved in prevention efforts, please visit the PATH to Care Center's Prevention First page and the SVSH Hub Prevention Engagement page. |
Reporting
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Supportive Measures
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Gender & Sexuality ResourcesThe Gender Equity Resource Center (GenEq) provides support and promotes a welcoming environment for people of all genders and sexual orientations. |
Important concepts related to Title IX:
Equality and equity
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"Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome." (Marin Health & Human Services) - Due to societal inequalities and other factors, different individuals need different resources or opportunities to be able to access educational programs.
Intersectionality 
- "The concept of intersectionality, coined by Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw, describes the ways in which systems of inequality based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, class and other forms of discrimination 'intersect' to create unique dynamics and effects." (Center for Intersectional Justice)
- Each person holds multiple identities at the same time, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, class, language, and culture.
- Inequalities are all interconnected. An individual can also experience multiple forms of discrimination or harassment at the same time.
Image credits: Equality vs Equity: Angus Maguire; Intersectionality: Other Sociologist