Dublin high school student Maegha Ramanthan noticed the high attrition rate of girls in sports as she got older.
“I received comments like, ‘Stop trying, you're never going to succeed anyways,’” said Ramanthan. “I felt inferior in sports. I thought I was weak.”
She founded Girls4Sports, a nonprofit organization advocating for equal opportunities in youth athletics, largely through invoking Title IX law.
“Many people didn't even know what their Title IX rights were,” Ramanathan said. “They didn't know that if there's a boys' sports team, there should be a girls' sports team and they should receive equal funding and equal quality of equipment.”
Title IX was established in 1972 and prohibits gender-based discrimination in federally funded educational programs. Just this year, the Biden administration expanded the protections of the law to include survivors, pregnant youth, and LGBTQ+ students.
But despite the 50-year-old legislation, students today continue to face familiar battles. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has 125 open Title IX investigations in California, and Elk Grove Unified, Natomas Unified, Rocklin Unified, and Pacer Union High School are among those listed.
The Representation Project, founded by California's First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newson, is fighting for gender equity in media and education by focusing on youth leadership.
A new cohort of gender-expansive students, including Ramanathan, has joined the organization’s youth advisory council to bring Title IX education into public schools.
Holly Martinez, executive director of The Representation Project, said that while Title IX traditionally addresses cases of sexual assault and harassment, the legislation needs to evolve to address broader issues of gender inequity.
She underscored the role of the youth council in this effort: “It is focusing on all of the various work that involves disrupting gender stereotypes.”
The Representation Project has partnered with Ramanathan to amplify the #SignForNine campaign, which educates students about their Title IX rights.
“My main goal through #SignForNine is to make sure that everybody understands what their Title IX rights are,” said Ramanthan. “No one should have to face sexual harassment and not have it addressed properly. No girl should have their voice muted, simply because they are a girl.”
Haley Labia, another member of the youth council and a former Sacramento high school student, said she witnessed the gaps in gender equity locally.
“I had a friend in high school who’s nonbinary, and I think they struggled just feeling safe and comfortable … I think Title IX education in high school would have been very beneficial,” said Labia.
The campaign provides a guide for identifying gender disparities in school athletic programs and templates for school board comments, empowering students to take action and demand equal opportunities.
Martinez with the Project reiterated that despite the legal protections offered by Title IX, young people are stepping up to ensure it continues to stay relevant.
“We are seeing a resounding call to action by young people for better Title IX systems in public schools,” Martinez said.
The Representation Project and their youth council — headed by students like Ramanathan and Labia — are not just upholding the legacy of Title IX, Martinez hopes they are evolving it, ensuring that it remains a relevant tool for justice in the face of persistent inequities.
CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.
Donate Today
