Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX

I decided to go the non-fiction route this time around. I didn't see any fiction books that really inspired me, and a girl in one of my classes had recommended this to me a couple of months ago. I played some sports in my day so I thought I'd give it a shot.

As the title indicates, this book provides a short history of Title IX starting with the first women's rights movements in the 1840's. It ends with the 30th anniversary of Title IX's passage in 2002. I thought this book provided a nice balance of detailed information on the legislative process of Title IX without becoming too boring. I also learned something very interesting - Title IX was initially about equal educational opportunities for men and women, and does apply to that also, but is more known for its effects on athletics. The athletic angle wasn't even considered when the bill was being drafted.

Short biographies of pivotal legislators and sports figures were interspersed throughout, which I also really enjoyed. I had no idea some of my favorite sports stars had so many hurdles (no pun intended) to overcome to play sports! As the book progresses there are also various charts defining how many women are playing sports, earning bachelor's degrees, and entering graduate schools throughout the years since Title IX. I definitely took Title IX for granted growing up, but it's obvious I wouldn't have had the opportunities I did without it. I found this book really inspiring.