| Duke University students march in Take Back the Night Protest, 1987. From The Chronicle, taken by Peter Aman. Title IX: Activism On and Off the Field, is coming to the New-York Historical Society May 13 – September 4, 2022. The exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of Title IX, an addition to the Education Amendments Act of 1972 that reshaped American society by prohibiting discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal assistance. Well recognized in the realms of sports and sexual harassment, Title IX covers a broad spectrum of American educational life, from K-12 to higher education, thanks to the activists and lawmakers determined to secure the advantages of education for all students.  Women Make Policy Not Coffee pin. An important push for women’s organizing within federal government agencies came from administrative staff. On view in the Joyce B. Cowin Women’s History Gallery, Title IX immerses visitors in the spaces shaped most profoundly by the legislation and highlights the crucial work of activists in demanding that their institutions and government live up to the law’s promises. The exhibit will be split into five sections. “On the Hill and Bench,” captures the legislative and legal battles over the boundaries of Title IX fought in the halls of Congress and the court system. “On Campus” features personal items related to student protests, from a Yale Women’s Crew sweatshirt worn to a 1976 “strip-in” protest to flyers and signs made for demonstrations against sexual violence on campus. In a space evoking a stadium, the third section explores the explosion of girls and women engaging in sports and fitness after the passage of Title IX. “In the Classroom” includes items documenting how Title IX aided efforts by parents, teachers, and schools to create new curricula challenging gender stereotypes. The exhibition closes with a celebration of the law’s accomplishments and a look at what remains to be done. For more information, visit nyhistory.org |
Title IX Turns 50, Celebrated in Upcoming Exhibit at N-YHS
