The proposed changes to Title IX by the Biden administration and the U.S. Department of Education have sparked grave concerns for women’s well-being and the hard-fought rights these changes will erode. The changes propose withholding or withdrawing funding from innocent women and girls if a school or women’s team denies a male participation in women’s sports. Such punitive measures targeting female competitors not only jeopardize the progress we have made but also pose significant risks to the safety and well-being of women. This proposed shift in policy is deeply troubling and warrants serious attention.
There has been a noticeable increase in young men expressing a desire to transition to the female gender. While we should approach this issue with empathy, it is crucial to acknowledge the biological reality that changing one’s sex from male to female is not scientifically possible.
Medical interventions can alter physical appearances to resemble the female body, which enables some males to look like females through hormone replacement therapy and other procedures. However, these interventions were intended to be applied as a last resort and should be approached with caution due to inevitable risks and long-term side effects.
The popularization of stories like Jazz Jennings’ on TLC has created a misunderstanding that gender transition is a commonplace and beneficial medical practice. This misconception overlooks the extreme negative outcomes and well-documented consequences of what happens over time to young individuals who are suffering from gender dysphoria and other sexual issues.
While empathy for those experiencing gender dysphoria is important, rushing individuals, especially young children and adolescents, into hormonal or surgical procedures and social transitioning through sports is not advisable. Therapists, doctors, coaches, and teachers involved in these processes may have their own biases, leading to hasty decisions pushing these young men into social transition steps while overlooking the evident harms. As a society, our responsibility is to prioritize the long-term well-being of all individuals.
Women have a particular stake in Title IX, which outlaws sex-brd discrimination in education and athletics. To undo this progress now will rob many women and girls of opportunities – not to mention their safety and privacy – to compete and excel in sports, including the opportunity to attend college on athletic scholarship.
As compassionate members of society, it is our duty to safeguard marginalized females, ensuring they are never subjected to threatening or abusive situations. Kappa Kappa Gamma National leadership tried implementing forceful measures onto their college women to accept a male identifying as transgender. This has proven harmful to all. Implementing punitive financial measures, as suggested in Title IX revision, onto women or schools maintaining separate female categories, teams, or spaces is both unjust and counterproductive to the pursuit of equality. It borders on inhumane treatment of females who have certain vulnerabilities (to sexual assault, rape and other violence) due to our biology and the male physical size and strength advantage.
Preserving clear boundaries between males and females, regardless of their preferred gender identification, is essential to safeguard the rights and well-being of historically marginalized females. We must resist repeating past mistakes where societal norms perpetuated power imbalances between genders. Granting males who claim to identify as female positions of power over their female counterparts through changes to Title IX would perpetuate systemic misogyny and hinder women’s progress. Our unwavering commitment must be to empower women and ensure they have equal opportunities to reach their full potential. Criticizing schools or women for protecting the integrity of female sports would disrespect their dedication to preserve the integrity of female athletics and perpetuate historical injustices.
In conclusion, I urge thoughtful consideration of these issues. Implementing the proposed changes to Title IX as currently suggested by the U.S. Department of Education would repeat history and perpetuate the abuse of women. Let us strive to maintain the progress we have achieved in women’s rights and work towards a society where every individual’s rights are protected and respected including women’s rights.
Margo Knorr leads the North Dakota chapter of the Independent Women Network and a four-time NCAA All-American athlete.
