I'll be intrigued to hear what the Title IX peeps have to say about the opening paragraph of John Tierney's piece in the New York Times. His article is entitled "A New Frontier for Title IX" and begins:

Until recently, the impact of Title IX, the law forbidding sexual discrimination in education, has been limited mostly to sports. But now, under pressure from Congress, some federal agencies have quietly picked a new target: science.

Why am I intrigued?

Well, consider what the About Title IX website points out:

Athletics has created the most controversy [my bold, and I'd probably add "most publicity"] regarding Title IX, but its gains in education and academics are notable. Before Title IX, many schools refused to admit women or enforced strict limits. Some statistics highlighting the advancements follow:

In 1994, women received 38% of medical degrees, compared with 9% in 1972.
In 1994, women earned 43% of law degrees, compared with 7% in 1972.
In 1994, 44% of all doctoral degrees to U.S. citizens went to women, up from 25% in 1977.

And how about what US Secretary of Education Richard Riley wrote in 1997 to introduce the report: Title IX: 25 years of Progress.

The great untold story of success that resulted from the passage of Title IX is surely the progress that has been achieved in education. In 1971, only 18 percent of all women, compared to 26 percent of all men, had completed four or more years of college. This education gap no longer exists. Women now make up the majority of students in America's colleges and universities in addition to making up the majority of recipients of master's degrees. Indeed, the United States has become a world leader in giving women the opportunity to receive a higher education.

Look what USAToday wrote in 2002 in an article titled: "Title IX's impact measurable, 30 years later."

Most people think first of sports when Title IX comes up in conversation. But the landmark 1972 law that banned sex discrimination in education extends to academics and employment, too. Today, 30 years after Title IX's enactment, more women are going to college, and more women are on college faculties. A report to be released later this year by the American Council on Education shows that, in 2001, women were presidents at 22% of the nation's approximately 3,800 colleges and universities. That's up from 19% in 1999, and 9.5% in 1986.

Or how about this from a May, 2007 article:

Title IX forced open doors and removed barriers - both legal and social. Girls and women's participation in both athletics and academics skyrocketed. As Dr. Mary Curtis and Dr. Christine H.B. Grant explain on their "About Title IX" website, "before Title IX, many schools refused to admit women or enforced strict limits." Now, noted a July, 2006 New York Times article, "women make up 58% of those enrolled in two- and four-year colleges and are, over all, the majority in graduate schools and professional schools, too."

So, yeah, I can't wait until the Title IX peeps weigh in. 'Cause, in case you need reminding, this is what an Overview of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (by the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Yes. This is a Civil Rights issue.) says:

In June 1972, the President signed Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq., into law. Title IX is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity.

The principle objective of Title IX is to avoid the use of federal money to support sexually discriminatory practices in education programs such as sexual harassment and employment discrimination, and to provide individual citizens effective protection against those practices.

Title IX applies, with a few specific exceptions, to all aspects of federally funded education programs or activities. In addition to traditional educational institutions such as colleges, universities, and elementary and secondary schools, Title IX also applies to any education or training program operated by a recipient of federal financial assistance. Many of these education program providers/recipients became subject to Title IX regulations when the Title IX final common rule was published on August 30, 2000.