[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 102 (Friday, June 22, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS 
   OF 1972 AND RECOGNIZING THE NEED TO CONTINUE PURSUING EDUCATIONAL 
                   OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS

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                               speech of

                         HON. JOHN P. SARBANES

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 18, 2007

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, title IX of the Education Amendments of 
1972 changed everything about our college admissions process. Led by 
the late Representatives Patsy T. Mink and Edith Green, Congress 
established a principle we often take for granted today--the 
prohibition of gender discrimination in any federally funded 
educational program. The effects of the law have been substantial.
  In 1972, only 42 percent of Bachelors of Arts degrees were earned by 
women; by 2004 that number rose to 57 percent. Only 9 percent of 
medical degrees were awarded to women; now it's above 45 percent. Not 
surprisingly, law degrees were the most imbalanced. In 1972, only 7 
percent of law degrees were held by women and by 2004 almost 50 percent 
went to women. Only 15 percent of PhD's went to women before title IX 
and that number is now close to 50 percent.
  This progress is worth celebrating but we have plenty more to do. 
Title IX has as much utility now as it did in 1972. Women continue to 
face substantial barriers, especially in high wage fields such as 
science, technology, engineering and math. Sexual harassment remains 
pervasive in schools and on college campuses. Women and girls' sports 
teams still do not receive an equal share of resources.

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