What Title IX Means to Athletes Today

It was only fifty short years ago that women’s sports were not protected under Title IX. Today we celebrate the progress that has been made and the milestones that have been reached for female athletes on the road towards equality. 

Prior to Title IX, only 1% of college athletic budgets went to women’s sports programs (King Enterprises, 2022). Fifty years later, female athletic participation has increased by 1057 percent at the high school level and 614 percent at the collegiate level (Elbaba, 222). As a company that caters to female athletes, and female athletes only, Title IX holds great significance to us. It represents opportunity, visibility, empowerment, respect, equality, and it continues to impact women’s sports in countless ways. 

At RIP-IT, we have the privilege of working alongside post-collegiate and professional female athletes. In the days leading up to the 50th anniversary of Title IX, we reached out and asked what Title IX means to them as female athletes.
An athletic woman in a white RIP-IT performance tee and blue athletic shorts stands confidently against a white background. To her left is a large black quotation mark followed by a testimonial block featuring text from Taylor Edwards about the importance of Title IX for the future of female athletes "As a professional female athlete, Title IX is about visibility. We are nowhere near where we should be but we are going in the right direction. So many women have come before me and sacrificed so much for me to continue to play the sport that I love. It's my job to continue to push for equality and visibility in women's sports so the future generations of female athletes get even more. ". The RIP-IT logo is visible on her shirt.
A testimonial card features a female athlete and a direct quote. On the right, a woman in a white RIP-IT performance tee and grey athletic shorts stands confidently. To her left is a large black opening quote followed by the block text: "I hope we can get to a point where girls playing sports don't have to be as aware of Title IX as we are right now. Girls and women deserve the same opportunity in sport that men and boys do and when we are given that opportunity we run with it. I can't wait for the sports world to get to a place where it's not men vs. women, but everyone working together and celebrating each other." Below the text, a large black closing quote is present, followed by the name "SAM FISCHER".
An image of the athlete with a quote about title IX. "Title IX means opportunities for me. Without Title IX I would not be able to obtain a free education and play softball with my lifelong best friends. Playing sports has taught me so many life lessons, lessons I may not have had without it. I'm thankful to have competed at the D1 level with many other strong independent women! We get to change the world with a more equal playing field in sports!" Written by Kayla Green
An athletic woman in a white RIP-IT performance tee and blue athletic shorts stands confidently against a white background. "Title IX means everything to me. It has given me the opportunity to play the sport I love at the highest level, while also getting an education. It has opened so many doors for women in sports and continues to pave the way for the next generation. I am so grateful for the women who fought for this before me, and I hope to continue to inspire the young girls coming up behind me to keep pushing boundaries and reaching for their dreams"

For our RIP-IT Athletes, the common thread of Title IX is the opportunity it provides and the limitless potential as the years carry on. Today we celebrate the women who competed before, the women competing now, and the women who will compete in the future.

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