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On Anniversary of Title IX, Sec. Sebelius Says: Budget Cutbacks ‘Shouldn’t Mean Rolling Back Equality for Women’
Think Progress / Video Report
Published: Sunday 24 June 2012
Sebelius spoke about the huge progress achieved in 40 years toward a more balanced education system, particularly in the world of sports.
This Saturday marks the 40th anniversary of Title IX, a gender equality in education effort from the 1970s. At an event at the Center for American Progress, Health and Human Services Sec. Kathleen Sebelius acknowledged the country still has a long way to go before it achieves true gender parity.
Sebelius spoke about the huge progress achieved in 40 years toward a more balanced education system, particularly in the world of sports. But she also noted that women still face some discrimination, both in how they are currently treated at schools, and how they may be de-prioritized because of underlying sexism:
We know that women still get fewer opportunities to play sports in high school and college, fewer scholarship dollars, and often settle for very inferior facilities and equipment. And especially in challenging times, we need to make sure budget cutbacks don’t mean rolling back the equality that’s been achieved for women. But as we acknowledge the challenges ahead, we need to celebrate how far we’ve come.
Women are still lagging behind educationally in some areas, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM programs). Currently, women hold far fewer STEM degrees — only 17.9 percent of computer science degrees go to women — and are only 24 percent of the STEM workforce.
And Sebelius is right that women’s programs are targeted in budget cuts. Since women tend to be marginalized and under-represented in politics, programs that benefit women are too often the first on the chopping block. Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) budget, for example, slashes education, nutrition, and health care assistance for women.
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ABOUT Annie-Rose Strasser
Annie-Rose Strasser is a Reporter/Blogger for ThinkProgress. Before joining American Progress, she worked for the community organizing non-profit Center for Community Change as a new media specialist. Previously, Annie-Rose served as a press assistant for Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Annie-Rose holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from the George Washington University.
8 comments on "On Anniversary of Title IX, Sec. Sebelius Says: Budget Cutbacks ‘Shouldn’t Mean Rolling Back Equality for Women’"
July 11, 2012 3:23pm
So, vote for the right this election ladies, and your husband then can give you your new ironing board cover for your birthday. Happy homemaking!
June 26, 2012 1:49pm
Slander: Obama is against freedom. Facts: Not Obama but Repubs are attacking Freedom and the Constitution. They want to turn US into a religious Iran-like dictatorship together with Shariah law. They attack women’s freedom of choice with 1000s of anti-abortion bills and want to prevent them access to contraceptives. GOP Governor Ultrasound (McDonnell) of Virginia wants to force devises up all women’s uterus in urgent need of an abortion. The Supreme Court just stroke down Arizona’s Gov Brewer’s SB 1070 immigration law for clashing against the Constitution. Their anti-women attacks will weigh heavily on the woman vote. Vote for freedom in November. Stay away from the GOP!
June 25, 2012 2:21pm
Why should everyone else pay to maintain your equality? Seems kinda inequitable, no?
;-)
June 25, 2012 8:15am
Can you imagine what paying that extra 30 cents to equalize women's wages would do to profits? No more big bonuses for the 'good old boys' .
June 24, 2012 2:10pm
make women get eng derees make people buy tickets to women sports great ideas
June 24, 2012 1:24pm
WOMEN close the VAGINA until you have all of the RIGHTS that you are entitled to and the EQUALITY that you deserve..
I would like to say that I have and will support ALL women's right at all times. But; I must say that not one single RIGHT granted in the Constitution of the United States of America for any protected group must never be allowed to be taken away because of Budget contraints. Raise the damn TAXES equally on every American Citizen to enforce ALL Rights for ALL People for ALL protected reasons.
June 25, 2012 2:22pm
"Group rights" should never be protected; only individual human citizen's rights.
June 24, 2012 10:38am
When were women equal to white corporate elite males? This must have passed me by like TMoble G4 network commercial. Women are 54% of the US population. Their number in the corporate/government decision making hierarchy is less than 10%. And the white corporate male still want to cut any funding that would bring the equality issue to forefront. Women must get into the corporate world hierarchy, military hierarchy, scientific hierarchy, and all the male dominated hierarchies. They will very likely bring humanness, fairness, and gentleness to the savage world men have created in our quest for civilization. High five to WOMEN for bringing life and reducing death, misery, abuse, poverty, and BS.