The Science of Fairness
Daily Tech and Science #-1400
Title IX and the Lab Coat: How a Law About Fairness Helped Launch More Women into Science
When you hear “Title IX,” you might think of soccer fields, basketball courts, or locker rooms. But this powerful law from 1972 has shaped much more than just sports—it’s helped launch rockets, build robots, and put more women in lab coats.
What Is Title IX?
Title IX is a law that says schools that get federal money can’t treat students unfairly because of their sex. At first, it made big waves in sports—schools suddenly had to offer girls the same chances to play as boys. But the law doesn’t just apply to athletics. It covers everything in education, from chemistry labs to coding classes.
In fact, Title IX helped kick open the doors of science and engineering for girls and women all over the country.
Before Title IX: Fewer Opportunities, Big Barriers
Before Title IX, many schools didn’t even let girls take advanced science classes. Some universities had rules that limited how many women could enroll in medical or engineering programs. Scholarships and internships were often reserved for men. Even textbooks and teachers sometimes told girls that science “wasn’t for them.”
But curiosity doesn’t care about gender. Girls wanted to learn. They just needed a fair chance.
The Shift: More Girls in Science
Once Title IX took hold, schools had to give everyone equal access to learning. That meant:
Girls could take physics and computer science without being pushed aside.
More women started earning college degrees in biology, chemistry, and engineering.
Programs were created to support women in math and science fields.
Between 1970 and today, the percentage of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields has grown dramatically. In biology, for example, women now earn over half of all degrees!
And it’s not just about numbers. It’s about ideas. More diverse voices in science means better problem-solving, fresh perspectives, and discoveries that benefit everyone.
Meet a Trailblazer: Dr. Mae Jemison
Dr. Mae Jemison was just 16 years old when Title IX became law. She was a science-loving teenager who grew up to become the first Black woman in space. She’s a doctor, an engineer, and an advocate for science education.
When asked about her journey, she once said, "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations."
Title IX helped remove some of those limits—so more imaginations could run wild.
What's Next?
Even with all this progress, there's still work to do. Some STEM fields like computer science and engineering still have big gender gaps. And girls from underrepresented communities often face extra challenges.
That’s why Title IX still matters. It’s not just history—it’s a tool we can keep using to make science more open, fair, and exciting for everyone.
Wondering What You Can Do?
Support girls in science clubs and competitions.
Share stories of women scientists and inventors.
Ask questions, build stuff, and be curious—no matter who you are.
Because science needs everybody’s ideas. And fairness helps us all go farther—whether we’re aiming for the stars or solving problems right here on Earth.
Finally… Regarding the NCAA Women’s March Madness Basketball Tournament… Go Georgia Tech!!