Awards

• In the Margins: Best Books for Teens
• Junior Library Guild Selection
• Rise: A Feminist Book Project List

Overview

“We trained just as hard and we have just as much love for our sport. We deserve to play just as much as any other athlete. . . . I am sick and tired of being treated like I am second rate. I plan on standing up for what is right and fighting for equality.” —Sage Ohlensehlen, Women’s Swim Team Captain at the University of Iowa Fifty years ago, US president Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law, making it illegal for federally funded education programs to discriminate based on sex. The law set into motion a massive boom in girls and women’s sports teams, from kindergarten to the collegiate level. Professional women’s sports grew in turn. Title IX became a massive touchstone in the fight for gender equality. So why do girls and women—including trans and intersex women—continue to face sexist attitudes and unfair rules and regulations in sports? The truth is that the road to equality in sports has been anything but straightforward, and there is still a long way to go. Schools, universities, and professional organizations continue to struggle with addressing unequal pay, discrimination, and sexism in their sports programming. Delve into the history and impact of Title IX, learn more about the athletes at the forefront of the struggle, and explore how additional changes could lead to equality in sports. “Girls are socialized to know . . . that gender roles are already set. Men run the world. Men have the power. Men make the decisions. . . . When these girls are coming out, who are they looking up to telling them that’s not the way it has to be? And where better to do that than in sports?” —Muffet McGraw, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Notre Dame “Fighting for equal rights and equal opportunities entails risk. It demands you put yourself in harm’s way by calling out injustice when it occurs. Sometimes it’s big things, like a boss making overtly sexist remarks or asserting they won’t hire women. But far more often, it’s little, seemingly innocuous, things . . . that sideline the women whose work you depend on every day. You can use your privilege to help those who don’t have it. It’s really as simple as that.” —Liz Elting, women’s rights advocate

Full Product Details

9781728419473

Table of Contents

Reviews

A provocative analysis of the changes wrought on U.S. sports at every level by Title IX and the complex issues that the legislation has, over the years, been used to address. Cronn-Mills trots out flurries of heartening statistics to show how much American women's participation in education and organized sports has increased since the 37-word rule (which she quotes in full) was added to a federal bill in 1972. But along with cogently arguing that equality is not the same as true equity (and that both remain elusive anyway), she expands the ongoing controversy's scope by discussing at some length the conflicts and nuances that issues of racism and transphobia have added to the evolving notion of gender--and stoutly countering claims that trans competitors have unfair physical advantages. The stock photos are sparse and, at times, look more like filler, but racial representation in them is diverse and inclusive, as are the frequent shoutouts to significant voices for change, from Billie Jean King and Simone Biles to nonbinary Olympian skateboarder Alana Smith. Her conclusion that the battle for equal opportunity is still being fought because sexism is endemic in our society is persuasive, as is her argument that a profound shift in culture that demands change is the only way toward real resolution. Necessary reading, particularly for those who think the battle is won and done.--Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (2/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)

A provocative analysis of the changes wrought on U.S. sports at every level by Title IX and the complex issues that the legislation has, over the years, been used to address. Cronn-Mills trots out flurries of heartening statistics to show how much American women's participation in education and organized sports has increased since the 37-word rule (which she quotes in full) was added to a federal bill in 1972. But along with cogently arguing that equality is not the same as true equity (and that both remain elusive anyway), she expands the ongoing controversy's scope by discussing at some length the conflicts and nuances that issues of racism and transphobia have added to the evolving notion of gender--and stoutly countering claims that trans competitors have unfair physical advantages. The stock photos are sparse and, at times, look more like filler, but racial representation in them is diverse and inclusive, as are the frequent shoutouts to significant voices for change, from Billie Jean King and Simone Biles to nonbinary Olympian skateboarder Alana Smith. Her conclusion that the battle for equal opportunity is still being fought because sexism is endemic in our society is persuasive, as is her argument that a profound shift in culture that demands change is the only way toward real resolution. Necessary reading, particularly for those who think the battle is won and done. --Kirkus Reviews -- (2/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) Cronn-Mills begins this comprehensive overview of the treatment of women's sports with an introduction to the problem of inequality, related terminology (e.g., equity, feminism, systemic sexism), and the ultimate question: 'Why don't we value women in sports?' Persuasive text, supported by facts, statistics, and quotes, leads readers through the evolution of Title IX and how it impacted the involvement of girls and women in sports. Contending that Title IX has only been 'a Band-Aid, ' however, the author continues to demonstrate persistent inequalities in women's sports, such as lower professional pay and media coverage, and suggests changing mindsets to advocate for women's sports. While she primarily compares women's and men's sports, Cronn-Mills also addresses transgender and nonbinary athletes and issues of acceptance and inclusivity. Enhancing the narrative are lengthy spotlights on historic and newsworthy topics in women's history, from the development of the sports bra to the sexualization of women's athletic wear to Serena Williams as an intersectional athlete. A thought-provoking look at women's history and its ongoing debates. --Booklist -- (5/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) Since the Title IX law was passed fifty years ago, women's participation in sports has risen, both among students and among professional athletes. Title IX protects participants of federally-funded programs from discrimination based on sex. Though great strides have been made toward equality in sports participation for any gender, there's still work to be done to achieve true equality. Issues in access to training equipment, differences in marketing men's sports compared to women's, and disparities in the salaries paid to athletes have yet to be meaningfully addressed. The strong voices of athletes from yesterday and today continue to raise awareness about the issues that remain unaddressed, inviting others to take a stand with them. Cronn-Mills methodically breaks down the history of women's participation in sports to what it was like before Title IX, the changes which began with the law's passage, and the current state of inequality in women's and men's sports. Sidebars tell the stories of Billie Jean King, Serena Williams, and other sports heroes who have broken barriers in their games. Though the text may seem dry at time, it is both clear and informative. The final chapter offers a look at the future of sports and the changes that would bring greater equality across genders. In the pages beyond, a glossary gives readers a basis for understanding key terms. A recommended list of books for additional reading is useful for readers interested in learning more. All in all, a helpful tool for understanding the history of the Title IX law and its impact on sports communities. Reviewer Rating 4 -Children's Literature -- (9/20/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"""A thought-provoking look at women's history and its ongoing debates.""—Booklist ""Necessary reading, particularly for those who think the battle is won and done.""—Kirkus Reviews ""[A] helpful tool for understanding the history of the Title IX law and its impact on sports communities."" –Children's Literature"

A provocative analysis of the changes wrought on U.S. sports at every level by Title IX and the complex issues that the legislation has, over the years, been used to address. Cronn-Mills trots out flurries of heartening statistics to show how much American women's participation in education and organized sports has increased since the 37-word rule (which she quotes in full) was added to a federal bill in 1972. But along with cogently arguing that equality is not the same as true equity (and that both remain elusive anyway), she expands the ongoing controversy's scope by discussing at some length the conflicts and nuances that issues of racism and transphobia have added to the evolving notion of gender--and stoutly countering claims that trans competitors have unfair physical advantages. The stock photos are sparse and, at times, look more like filler, but racial representation in them is diverse and inclusive, as are the frequent shoutouts to significant voices for change, from Billie Jean King and Simone Biles to nonbinary Olympian skateboarder Alana Smith. Her conclusion that the battle for equal opportunity is still being fought because sexism is endemic in our society is persuasive, as is her argument that a profound shift in culture that demands change is the only way toward real resolution. Necessary reading, particularly for those who think the battle is won and done. --Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (2/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) Cronn-Mills begins this comprehensive overview of the treatment of women's sports with an introduction to the problem of inequality, related terminology (e.g., equity, feminism, systemic sexism), and the ultimate question: 'Why don't we value women in sports?' Persuasive text, supported by facts, statistics, and quotes, leads readers through the evolution of Title IX and how it impacted the involvement of girls and women in sports. Contending that Title IX has only been 'a Band-Aid, ' however, the author continues to demonstrate persistent inequalities in women's sports, such as lower professional pay and media coverage, and suggests changing mindsets to advocate for women's sports. While she primarily compares women's and men's sports, Cronn-Mills also addresses transgender and nonbinary athletes and issues of acceptance and inclusivity. Enhancing the narrative are lengthy spotlights on historic and newsworthy topics in women's history, from the development of the sports bra to the sexualization of women's athletic wear to Serena Williams as an intersectional athlete. A thought-provoking look at women's history and its ongoing debates. --Booklist -- Journal (5/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) Since the Title IX law was passed fifty years ago, women's participation in sports has risen, both among students and among professional athletes. Title IX protects participants of federally-funded programs from discrimination based on sex. Though great strides have been made toward equality in sports participation for any gender, there's still work to be done to achieve true equality. Issues in access to training equipment, differences in marketing men's sports compared to women's, and disparities in the salaries paid to athletes have yet to be meaningfully addressed. The strong voices of athletes from yesterday and today continue to raise awareness about the issues that remain unaddressed, inviting others to take a stand with them. Cronn-Mills methodically breaks down the history of women's participation in sports to what it was like before Title IX, the changes which began with the law's passage, and the current state of inequality in women's and men's sports. Sidebars tell the stories of Billie Jean King, Serena Williams, and other sports heroes who have broken barriers in their games. Though the text may seem dry at time, it is both clear and informative. The final chapter offers a look at the future of sports and the changes that would bring greater equality across genders. In the pages beyond, a glossary gives readers a basis for understanding key terms. A recommended list of books for additional reading is useful for readers interested in learning more. All in all, a helpful tool for understanding the history of the Title IX law and its impact on sports communities. Reviewer Rating 4 -Children's Literature -- Website (9/20/2022 12:00:00 AM)

Author Information

Kirstin Cronn-Mills, PhD, teaches writing, literature, and critical thinking at South Central College in North Mankato, Minnesota. She writes fiction, poetry, and nonfiction books and articles. Her young adult fiction and nonfiction have been honored several times, including a Minnesota Book Award nomination for LGBTQ+ Athletes Claim the Field in 2017. LGBTQ+ Athletes was also a 2016 Junior Library Guild selection, a 2017 American Library Association Rainbow List selection, and a 2017 Best Children's Books of the Year selection from Bank Street College.

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