Gender

From the Scholars Strategy Network, written by Nichole Bauer, University of Alabama. Edited for Journalist’s Resource.

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, known as “Title Nine,” requires funding equity for boys’ and girls’ athletic programs in institutions that receive federal funding. To comply with the act, by 1978 U.S. high schools increased their female sports participation significantly, from 4% in 1972 to 25% four years later. Boys’ participation was stable during this period at about 50%, indicating that female athletic opportunities did not come at the expense of male opportunities in this early period.

Online harassment and threats are not a new phenomenon, but the degree to which these are directed at women and girls has begun to receive increased attention from news media, academia and law enforcement.

Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1970s, millions have been infected and died. In 2010, more than 34 million worldwide were living with the disease, and despite significant resources dedicated to prevention, thousands more become infected every day. Prevalence varies significantly by country, from estimates of less than 0.1% in Bangladesh, Egypt and Japan to more than 23% in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland.

A wide range of studies have shown that unintended pregnancies are associated with a number of negative health impacts for infants and parents — delayed or insufficient prenatal care, alcohol or tobacco use during pregnancy, premature birth and low birth weight, among others.