Before Title IX
The majority of women working in education taught in elementary and secondary schools. Those who did teach in colleges were primarily at women's colleges, usually weren't awarded tenure, and earned smaller salaries than their male counterparts. Only a few women were hired in high-level administrative positions throughout all of educational institutions.
Since Title IX
Academia's doors are opening to women faculty. Title IX has led to a higher number of female faculty members, especially at the lecturer, instructor and assistant professor levels. The wage gap has narrowed. And some women can finally be found in top administrative positions.
Why Title IX Is Still Critical
Women still face various types of employment discrimination in education, including a wage gap and under-representation in traditionally male fields and top positions. For example:
- Less than 35% of school principals are women, although 65% of teachers are women.
- While women are more than 50% of the lecturers and instructors, and a little less than 50% of the assistant professors, they are only 36% of associate professors and only 21% of full professors. And only 2.4% of full professors are women of color.
- Women head only 19% of colleges and universities.
- On average, compared to men, women earn less, hold lower ranking position, and are less likely to have tenure.
Fair Pay Campaign is working to add momentum to
pass equity legislation into law. It is led by the National Women’s Law
Center, the American Association of University Women, the Feminist Majority,
Legal Momentum, the National Organization for Women, the National Partnership
for Women and Families, and has been joined by 250 other national, state, and