printable versionQ&A: Billie Jean King on tennis and Title IX
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King, the tennis star who has been a trailblazer in the effort to achieve equal rights for women in sports and society, will be speaking at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at Maples Pavilion. The Aurora Forum and the Stanford Center on Ethics are sponsoring the event, "Title IX at 35: A Conversation with Billie Jean King," with LaDoris Cordell as the interviewer. Stanford Report touched base with King last week to hear some of her thoughts in advance about the landmark law that established gender equity in schools.
SR: Do you remember the first time you heard about Title IX?
King: I don't remember the specific moment I first heard about Title IX, but I do remember the feeling of the swell of support for the movement, and it was one of the life moments that energized me and reminded me how important it is to always keep the big picture in front of you.
SR: Thirty-five years ago, when the law was enacted, did you imagine that we would be where we are today?
King: The optimist in me would have wanted us to be at an equal share for women and men long before now. But these things take time. I am more astounded that no one really thought about getting women an equal share in the academic arena before 1972. We have made huge improvements since then, but there is still much work to do.
SR: So where do we stand in terms of Title IX's effect on gender equity in athletics?
King: It is important we recognize—and remember—that the Title IX amendments apply to all educational opportunities and not just athletics. The athletic implications of Title IX get us closer to gender equity in collegiate sports, but there is still work to be done. I think some colleges and universities have hidden behind the Title IX curtain to cut programs for both men and women when really it is a budget decision. Today, we are closer with women getting 45 percent of the college athletic scholarship dollars. But that remaining 5 percent represents almost $150 million in scholarship dollars; we need to close the gap.
SR: Clearly, young women today are more likely to be involved in athletics than a few decades ago. What are your concerns for women's physical fitness in 2007?
King: The good news is that since Title IX was enacted 35 years ago, female high school athletic participation has increased by 904 percent and female college athletic participation has increased by 456 percent. The bad news is that high school female athletes received only 41 percent of participation opportunities, which is 1.3 million fewer participation opportunities than their male counterparts.
Physical activity is a fundamental solution to the serious health and societal problems girls face today. It has been proven that girls who participate in sports and physical activity are at lower risk for numerous health problems including obesity, depression and heart disease. We have our work cut out for us. Just look at the facts—one in every six girls is obese or overweight, one in three teens gets pregnant, and one in four girls in grades 9-12 currently smokes.
SR: How closely do you follow women's tennis today?
King: Tennis is in my blood and probably always will be. I am very impressed with the commitment of the players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. There is a strong group of players at the top right now, and they have taken a leadership position with the players. Hopefully, this will lead to an even stronger base of young, up-and-coming players. The tennis is definitely exciting and the future is bright, and I am so proud that tennis remains the leader in women's sports today.