text: So why is this still happening? And no, it is not because men are somehow innately better at subjects like math and science than women. I find these claims to be ridiculous, and frankly, rather insulting. One of the actual reasons why there is still this persistent gender gap is because of pervading cultural biases. When society perpetuates gender norms and tells women that they do not belong in these fields, they start to internalize that message. Gender biases can prevent women from pursuing these subjects in the first place, hurt their academic performance, and influence whether parents and teachers encourage them to pursue careers in these fields.
  All of this frustrates me, but this is why it is so important for more women to enter these fields. This is why I still need Title IX. Title IX allows me to break and avoid these gender biases. It gives me the power to study subjects that I am passionate about, even if they have been traditionally dominated by men, and provides opportunities to show my colleagues and my professors that I am just as capable of doing well in Economics as any male student. In doing all of this, Title IX helps eliminate discrimination in the field. Title IX has already done this in the past, but it needs to continue to do so until women have achieved full equality in all academic subjects.
  In college, most of my professors so far have been men. And while many of them have been great, a part of me misses that connection I had with a lot of my female teachers in high school. And I am not the only student who feels this way. One study, for example, has shown that women are more interested and participate more in subjects that are taught by female professors, and this in turn improves their performances.
  Unfortunately, there are not many opportunities for women to learn from other women. In 2013, only 24 percent of professors were women. This number is a little confusing because women are actually earning more PhDs than men. This begs the question: where are all the women professors? The fact of the matter is that women are being discriminated against. Women in academia are less likely than men to get promoted to full professorship or tenure status, earn lower salaries than men, advance more slowly in their careers, and face instances of blatant sexism that drive them out of their fields.
  As someone who is still looking for a role model, having more female professors is imperative for me. Title IX seeks to make that happen. By working to eliminate discrimination in these fields, Title IX builds a bigger network of women professors. It helps women become successful in their fields and lets younger women like me find mentors so that we can succeed as well. It creates this cycle that fosters an environment for women to flourish.
  These are only three of the many reasons why I still need Title IX, but women need Title IX for a whole host of other reasons. Some need it so that they can have equal opportunities to play the sports they are passionate about or so they can receive certain career and technical education. Others need it to protect themselves from discrimination based on their gender identity. The list goes on and on. Title IX has been monumental in promoting women’s rights, but gender inequality is still a huge problem. So while I thank you Title IX for everything you have done for me and women around the country, your work is not done yet.
  Ashley is a summer intern at FMF researching various policies. She is from Denver, Colorado and is a rising junior at Duke University majoring in Economics and Public Policy.