Education for Women

Zonta is dedicated to achieving gender equality in education

Investing in the education of women and girls yields high returns, such as breaking cycles of poverty, fostering economic growth and empowering women both in the home and workplace. Much of Zonta’s work on education is done at the International Level to expand access to education. Below we outline Zonta USA and club advocacy for equality in education in the USA.

Zonta USA Advocacy Priorities for Education

Title IX

Sexual Harassment and Assault
Sports
Hostile Work Environment

Women in STEM

Equal Rights to Education

Disproportionate Impact of Student Debt on Women

Title IX

Title IX is a federal civil rights law passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. This law protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that:

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Title IX applies to any institution receiving federal financial assistance from the Department of Education, including state and local educational agencies. Educational programs and activities that receive federal funds from the Department of Education must operate in a nondiscriminatory manner. Also, a recipient may not retaliate against any person for opposing an unlawful educational practice or policy, or because a person made charges, testified or participated in any complaint action under Title IX.

TITLE IX’S WORK IS NOT DONE

Title IX has had many positive effects in schools in the last 47 years, but much work remains: (courtesy of AAUW)

AAUW’s own research revealed that two-thirds of college students experience sexual harassment . Studies have also found that around 20% of women college students are targets of attempted or completed sexual assault. Additionally, AAUW research found that 56% of girls and 40% of boys in grades 7-12 face sexual harassment.
Girls have 1.2 million fewer chances to play sports in high school than boys. Less than two-thirds of African American and Hispanic girls play sports, while more than three-quarters of white girls do.
Just 12% of engineers are women, and the number of women in computing fell from 35% in 1990 to just 26% in 2015.
Pregnant and parenting students are often steered toward separate, less rigorous schools.
The rate of female enrollment in certain nontraditional careersremains at low levels , with some fields well beneath 25% in women’s representation.

MORE THAN ATHLETICS

Title IX requires recipients of federal education funding to evaluate their current policies and practices; adopt and publish a policy against sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and violence; and implement grievance procedures providing for prompt and equitable resolution of student and employee discrimination complaints.

Title IX affects all areas of education, including: