The "Revolution" of Title IX

Tuti Scott - Thursday, August 23, 2012

This year was a huge success for women who outnumbered men on the U.S. Olympic team and won more medals..  I was so enamored by the level of excellence that was portrayed by all of the female athletes. I kept thinking about Title IX and the 1996 Olympics as the public’s first view of teams that were fully supported by Title IX.  Fast forward to 2012 and the world (see article on global women's sports shaped by Women Win's Maria Bobenreith) had its eye on women as competitors on every playing field.  Thankfully, some of the young women leading the next generation are also aware of the magnitude of Title IX.  A wise group of girls, Priya Ramamoorthy, Maanasa Nathan, Kavya Ramamoorthy and Smrithi Mahadevan have used their talents and voices to showcase what Title IX means to them and why they took on this project;

“Dr. Donna Lopiano has often said “social change takes about three generations…” This was the underlying theme that tied our website, Title IX empowerment, together. The 2011-2012 theme of National History Day was revolution, reaction and reform; our topic Title IX.  As we delved deeper into this project, we realized that today many people are not aware of Title IX and how it has played a huge role in the educational and athletic opportunities we have today.  From being able to take higher level courses, to leveling the playing field, Title IX has opened the door to many new opportunities for women and girls. We participated as a team in the National History Day competition, where our web site won first place at the national level.

Now girls can pursue a career in any field that they desire, be it sports or STEM (Science, technology, engineering or math).  Title IX is the people’s tool and for it to be used to its absolute potential, it is important that people know about it. We also realized that Title IX was a hard fought battle for opportunity that can be easily taken away; another reason why we need to remain vigilant and educate more people about Title IX.   By spreading the word about Title IX, our team hopes that for many more years to come, Title IX can continue to provide equal opportunities for both girls and boys in education as well as sports.”

For additional resources on women’s history or to support a young women in your life to embark on a journey of understanding the past as well as some good outlets for girl voices, here are some other sites of interest;

International Museum of Women
National Women’s History Project
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Creative videos on history set to music!
Videos on the History Channel on women’s history in politics
New Moon Girls
Girls Make Media
Off our Chests /Feel more Better
Comments (29) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

"March Madness" All Year Round!

Tuti Scott - Sunday, March 27, 2011
BasketBall - scorephoto © 2005 j9sk9s | more info (via: Wylio)

March Madness – I call it 'March Moving Mountains!' After playing basketball every day for more than a third of my life, the sounds and feel of the game is in my ‘bones’.  And yes, I was recently in the gym, shooting around and contemplating getting in a pick up game with men three times my size.   

As the President of the Point Guard Club of the Americas, I was excited to see the touted freshman point guards from Louisville, Tennessee, and Baylor. When these women were seven years old they were given an extraordinary gift.  Their childhood was spent watching role models in the WNBA. They had ample opportunity to play and be coached as future ‘pro’ athletes thanks to Title IX, and they have the desire and heart to play through ‘no matter what’… including the size of their opponent! 

Whenever people ask about my size and being a point guard, I gently remind them - quickness, smarts and speed can come in any size.  That said, the physical size and power displayed by 10 women on a basketball court is an expression of strength and feminism like no other!   Where else but during a women’s basketball game do you see women taking up space with such spirit, force, and courage?  

Early in March, a collegiate ski jumping championship took place in the U.S. for the first time in 31 years, but this time, the competition included women. In February, the U.S. Senate, passed a resolution in honor of the 25th National Girls and Women in Sports Day. It states, among other proclamations on the importance of sport in girls’ and women’s lives, that “women’s athletics are one of the most effective avenues available for the women of the United States to develop self-discipline, initiative, confidence, and leadership skills.”  I would also add to this resolution - the confidence to display their power, voice, and strength in all settings.  

Stay up to date on the women of the NCAA, WNBA, boxing, hockey, rugby and every other sport you’re interested in by checking out Women Talk Sports and the Women’s Sports Foundation now and throughout the year.

Comments (31) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Fundraising for Change

Tuti Scott - Wednesday, October 06, 2010

In the mid 1990‘s the Women’s Sports Foundation worked, as it continues to do today, to change the paradigm of how to include women in all levels of sport with full access and resources to be successful at whatever level of play and at whatever sport they chose. 

Looking at all the inhibitors to sport participation for women – sexism, patriarchal systems, sport segregation,  homophobia – they sought partnerships with funders and organizations that understood these issues to elevate their work.  Within this environment, three key lessons were gleaned that can help you as you continue your work as leaders in social change.


1)  Be inclusive of all generations in your work.  

Involving next-generation leadership in your work as social change leaders is critical for success.  Having and listening to voices of youth and from the perspective of naïveté / innocence but mostly passion feeds both sides of the age continuum. 

Each year Billie Jean King spoke to the Women’s Sports Foundation interns - they got to learn from her lessons and ask her advice on everything from pay equity to co-ed sports and she got to learn about new technology and their dreams for working in women’s sports.    

As you move forward in your social change work it is essential to make sure you are inclusive of other women; hearing from one another the lessons and ideas from a continuum of people who've lived through different experiences and in differing cultures in sport as allies or as gay, lesbian or transgendered athletes. 

2)  Demonstrate the need for change with statistics and a compelling message.

Continuing on the idea about successful social change occurring with leadership, message, resources and hard work. “Message” is the critical need to make your case with memorable statistics, data and/or case studies that tell a compelling story about how your work is changing the system and changing people's lives.   If you are lucky enough to have your message delivered by a popular icon, your visibility will increase and often your resources will be easier to get.   
Within your presentations think about how your research could be distilled to a phrase or simple story about why further work is needed on policies, visibility or resources.  As social change leaders, consider asking one another for advice about the best way to express your message or to suggest a practical application of your research.  

3)  Be able to recognize overt discrimination tactics and speak up about them 

As protections’ increase -- the Lilly Ledbetter law, legislation against hate crimes, legal decisions that classify decisions against LGBT as harassment – it is important to understand that legislation doesn’t prevent discrimination from happening. In reality, it drives overt discrimination underground where it becomes more covert, more difficult to identify, and often, harder to talk about. 

As we are successful in getting the legal systems in place, we must also increase our vigilance over the expression of more subtle and covert forms of discrimination.  

For more information about the Women’s Sports Foundation, please visit http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/

Comments (33) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

International Women's Sports Themes

Tuti Scott - Friday, May 21, 2010


This post is shared with gratitude to the smart women from Wellesley who did this fabulous summary of what is happening at the International Women's Sports conference we are attending.  I had dinner with Sarah and Lindsay last night and enjoyed their quick minds and passion! Here is their post which lives on the blog - FairGameNews.com

By Sarah Odell and Lindsay Rico

Have you ever considered access to athletics a human right? Do you wonder why it it matters for women to play sports? And, what the heck is Netball?

These are a few of the questions being put forth at the Fifth World Conference on Women & Sport. Some 500 people from 60 countries have made their way Down Under to Sydney, Australia to examine the implications — and complications — facing the worldwide women’s athletic community.

The four-day conference is raising challenging issues, but there is already one overwhelming response: Women’s access to sports is more than just a game.  FairGameNews.com is on site and blogging (watch for Q&A’s with key leaders coming up).

While female athletes (and would-be female athletes) may face particular barriers in their home nations, it is striking how much about the nature of the struggle for access, equity, and support are common across the globe. Some big themes:

– SPORT IS POWER: Women’s access to sport is not just a privilege, but  a right. This has been recognized in official declarations for years, but increasingly, this is not just about fitness, health, and the right to control one’s body, but about the political, economic and social tools that come as part of involvement in sports and sports culture.

– EQUITY IN SPORT IS A PUBLIC MATTER: Governments DO have an interest and a role to play in seeking — even regulating — gender equity in sports, several presenters have suggested. And one — Kate Ellis, Australian Minister of Sport — is actually taking action. She announced at the conference that her government would track and publish the gender make-up of sports governing boards and compile a Women in Sport Register to counter men who say they can’t find any qualified women to fill leadership roles. “If it’s really that hard for sport to go out there and find these women, then I’m prepared to work with them to do it,” she said.

– WOMEN’S SPORTS ARE MISSING FROM THE MEDIA: Female athletes around the globe are poorly covered and represented in the print and TV coverage (several studies showed a reproducibly predictable breakdown or representation: 80% men; 10% women; 10% other – horse racing typically gets more coverage than women, several speakers noted). What’s more, researchers say it hasn’t gotten any better in the past 30 years. As a result, said Toni Bruce, PhD, “we are teaching girls to be happy watching boys [play sports] and  teaching boys that they don’t have to watch girls [play sports].”


Comments (33) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Traveling with the Olympic Fundraiser

Tuti Scott - Tuesday, March 16, 2010

As the Vancouver Olympics were being held during the convening of a Women Moving Millions Donor Institute I led in February, I couldn’t help but share the idea of bringing forth one’s “Olympic Fundraiser.”  I encouraged attendees to apply the following tools honed for years by elite-level athletes.

1. Self confidence – over time, wearing confidence starts to build on itself so that it occurs naturally and with ease;  think of athletes who try a new ‘move’ or skill for the first time and how they live the term ‘fake it till you make it’
2. Practice and repetition – good fundraising is like a muscle, it is only as strong and supple as it can be from being used and ‘worked out;’ the only way you perfect your musculature is to ask, ask, ask, and continue to share your story over and over
3. Visualize success – imagine what a ‘victory’ looks like in each conversation; role play and imagine your conversation flowing until it rolls like a Lindsey Vonn pre-race body visualization of the moguls
4. Build trust – use the tools, the team, the movement as a support team; trust that the ‘equipment’ will work, your partner will shine, and the setting and pace is ‘on’

From San Francisco I took this idea to Women in Philanthropy presentation on Tools for a Smart Development Office and will move it along (with music!!) to the Women’s Funding Network conference in Denver in April.  From there I look forward to convening in Sydney with others at the International Working Group on Women’s Sports and working with the great group of folks at the International Women’s Development Agency.   

 I will be sharing with folks there how we can integrate the women’s rights and women’s sports spheres of influence to elevate both ‘agendas’ – one of my true passions in life!  If you want a visual of what this looks like, check out Women Win and their great video.  There is some potential in educating policy makers working on the Convention to End All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to lift up leadership issues in sports as well as health and physical activity.  And yes, it is still true that there are 188 countries who have signed on to CEDAW and the USA is NOT one of them.  More on CEDAW, sports, and women’s rights when I return from down under in June!

Comments (14) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Women, Power, and Data

Tuti Scott - Monday, March 08, 2010


In a room full of women leaders I remind them that power is not a bad word – only the abuse of power is.
Power is simply the ability to motivate people to do what you want them to do; to influence others. Power is manifested by how you communicate and how others receive you.

Often power is a subjective experience. There are three factors which influence the perception of power:
• Power of position – hold title and/or authority/access
• Power of wealth – have or are connected to wealth
• Power of knowledge or expertise – master of facts and arguments

Power of wealth and power of title or the ‘corner office’ are places that women and people of color have not traditionally had access to. Centuries of structural and systemic sexism or racism have kept us out of these spheres.

There are hundreds of folks who have spoken and written on the ‘light’ topic of “The history of patriarchy and the creation of race as a construct for domination.” Feel free to read bell hooks, Gloria Steinem, Barbara Jordan’s speeches, and others., and others.

Without equal access to positions of power or power stemming from wealth (which women and people of color generally do not have) what is the best access to power in this framework? For many of us it is the third frame or knowledge, data, and expertise.

Having knowledge and data gives you the power to think, to rationalize, and to make the best choice so that you and your organization can be successful. You are more likely to get a CEO or leader to commit to a project if you make your case using established facts, data, and by explaining how the choice will impact society, the staff, and the constituents the organization serves.

We can all work toward the three ‘stations’ of power being broadened with smart community organizing, increased social capital, and the changing of who sits in the corner office.  In the meantime, and on this auspicious day of celebration of International Women's Day, let’s also keep framing a powerful story and case that offers what we stand for rather than what we are against.

P. S.  For those of you who have a spiritual or physical understanding of the connection of sport and one's physical health and how this shape one's approach toward power, feel free to check out an organization I serve on the U.S. Board of and their brilliant launch of International Sports for Women's Rights Day. 


Comments (12) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Lead Forward with Courage

Tuti Scott - Sunday, December 20, 2009


Anais Nin said “Life shrinks or expands directly in proportion to one’s courage.”

When you are trying to influence someone, when you are trying to have power, it helps to share a vision of the future – to take them some place, and better yet, to use archetypes, stories, and images while painting the picture of a new future.

People love archetypes because they conjure up the notion of all things that stem from that original prototype. Images, literally imagining the outcome you want, helps mobilize unseen energy - a phenomenon which has actually been proven through the study of particle physics.

A practical way to start this process of visioning is in every meeting, whether it be with a donor or a staff member or your boss, in relationship to any project or goal, ask them: "What would success look like?  What would “winning” look or feel like?"

If you can imagine your goal and give it texture and shape, it is much more likely that you all will achieve the outcome you are seeking. It’s all part of “shared power.” If you build it, they will come…

People frequently ask me about female sports champions and what I've learned of their careers and their success. I often share stories about coaches who have their athletes visualize themselves at the gold medal ceremony and how this practice motivates and focuses their efforts.

All of the successful athletes I've met had this in common: they worked incredibly hard and diligently at their skills and their sport. If you want to reach your goals, then you must believe that if you work harder and smarter, you will win.

Sure, you and all athletes know that you may not win every time and there will always be someone who is more powerful, but in the long run, longevity and “stick-to-it-iveness” will prevail… potentially even over those who may be more powerful! This has been shown over and over in many advocacy efforts for social change.

Look forward with courage, play with ‘winning’ in mind and work hard - these are three essential components for realizing your goals.

“Follow your passion with persistence, magnified by intense preparation. Use compassion and courage to weave a strong web of connections. Use focused excellence to drive achievements and gain wisdom. It is through the combination of all these things that your power will reveal itself.”

- Shirley Ann Jackson, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President





Comments (15) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Confidence Building

Tuti Scott - Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Each time I have had the opportunity to lead a board retreat or staff management seminar, the question comes up from at least one of the women attendees – “How can I keep my confidence at a consistent and /or higher level in _____ situation?”

I had the privilege of being an athlete and playing numerous sports roles such as coach, sports administrator, and colleague to many world class athletes.   I know the sensation of ‘walking like I own the earth’ – feeling that I could accomplish almost anything no matter what the odds.  This is just one of many elements that all of us can model from being around athletes as a participant and/or fan. 

Here are three characteristics of high performance athletes and some cues that I find the most helpful to offer folks who may not have had the chance to compete or may have overlooked the connection between their performance on the field to their work product and practice. 

1.  Visualizing Success – Every athlete goes into a game imagining they will win.  They have practiced the same skill for hours on end, they believe in their abilities, and they have visualized success.  As part of a team, they have a level of surrender and trust that their teammates also have the skills for success.  This positive team attitude is led from the top (coach, manager, owner) and expressed on the field by the captain. 

Application – whatever your next ‘performance’ at work is, visualize what a ‘win’ looks and feels like.  Be specific!  Perhaps it is people applauding a speech, staff being motivated to work smarter, a proposal being approved, a check or new client coming into the office, etc.  Model this behavior in how you stand tall and proud, how you look people in the eye with confidence, and how you express a “captain’s positive attitude” to others around you.  Your self-esteem is an extension of what you say and think about yourself so choose your thoughts and words wisely. 

2.  Discipline and Goal Setting– I can remember at age 12 having a list of drills and exercises that I would do every day.  Each time I got to 10, I would push myself to get 15 with a new twist on the drill.  There is something to setting a goal and then seeing what happens when you ask yourself to do more or to do it in a unique way.  Putting your goals in writing and reviewing these regularly reminds you why the ‘daily drills’ are important. 

Application –Each time you create something (speech, letter, budget, etc), pay attention to the detail and see how you can bring the product to a new level.  When you have finished your project, read it one more time before you go to sleep and one more time when you get up.  Repetition and ‘practice’ makes you better. Put in writing what your goal and intention is for a project, for your career, for your organization, etc.  Review your goals with loved ones and encourage them to support you in ‘doing the drills’ to achieve success.   

3.  Risk Taking and Empathy – There is nothing like sports to teach you compassion.  When a good softball batting average is .350, this means you miss 65% of the time.  Same with basketball with the best player making her shots 40% of the time.  There is no team or player that has not experienced a loss and then gotten up and played the next time with a desire to win. 

Application – Possessing empathy for people when someone loses, understanding the feeling of being on both sides of an issue, having a willingness to take risks; this is the type of emotional intelligence that employers and leaders look for in members of a successful team.  When you enter a conversation or negotiation, imagine what it feels like to hear it from the other side of the table.  Express yourself with words that honor the experience of the recipient.   As well, when the opportunity arises to move a step closer to your goal, don’t hesitate to ‘grab the ball’!

There’s an athlete in each of us because confident performance truly is a state of mind.


 

Comments (42) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

You Have to See it to Be it

Tuti Scott - Wednesday, July 08, 2009

My first idea that a woman could play basketball at the ‘top’ level was in 1979 when I saw a small blurb in our local paper in New Hampshire about Ann Meyers trying out for the NBA Indiana Pacers.   For me this was a huge revelation - a woman competing in high level basketball!  This was something I had previously thought only the Celtics did and they were all men as far as I could see in the Concord Monitor sports pages.  It was a turning point for me that I then thought, maybe I could play basketball in college and maybe even on a men’s pro team?!  I did get to play in college at Ithaca thanks to Title IX but being 5’ 4”, I did not move beyond rec leagues and a dashed hope of being on the All American Redheads traveling team.   

While working at the Women’s Sports Foundation I got the chance to meet Annie Meyers and tell her how her photo had stayed on my bulletin board for years and that she was a role model to me.   Every day at the Women’s Sports Foundation we helped girls imagine the roles they could play as physical beings, as athletes and as leaders.   We showcased images and athletes with their personal stories to help girls visualize themselves on a kiteboard, wrestling on a mat, lifting weights or spiking a volleyball.  Women’s sports coverage is still less than 8% of all sports media coverage so promoting vibrant women athletes in action in any medium is a bonus.  This is especially true for girls to see as they wonder about how to showcase their strength and power as they walk through puberty.

There is something to be said about actually seeing the possibility of one’s self in a job, a sport or a position.   Ask any young African American boy about his career path now that President Obama is in the White House. Ask a Latina girl how she feels about her future with Judge Sonia Sotomayor on her way to being a Supreme Court Justice.

Amy Sewell and Heather Ogilvie put together “She’s Out There” to do just that; to show girls that they can be leaders – in fact – to lead from the most powerful position as President of the United States.  The book, She's Out There; Essays by 35 Young Women Who Aspire to Lead the Nation, showcases teenage girls who now, after watching then Senator Clinton run for President in 2008, have their own ideas and dreams about how and why they can serve in a leadership role.   Film coverage has shown the change in Liberian girl’s ideas of their lives after the formidable Ellen Sirleaf Johnson was elected as President of Liberia. 

Think of the great story of Ursula Burns, now CEO of Xerox, who worked her way up in the company to now be the first African American female CEO of a Fortune 500 company.   What an impressive story of leadership and determination over time.  Now if we can only keep getting these role models out there in equal amounts to the women who are portrayed because of their choices of clothing or beauty tips.  She’s Out There is a start; for young women to see peers of strength and for as many of us to "be it". 

Comments (12) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

1

About The Author

Tuti Scott is a thought leader on women's philanthropy, leadership, and social change. These are her ideas...

Recent Posts

Archives

Blog Roll

Purse Pundit
Girl with Pen
On the Ground
World Pulse
Igniting Change
Womenstake
Ask me how
The She Change

Useful Links

Women's Funding Network
Women Moving Millions
The Foundation Center
National Council on Planned Giving
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Association of Small Foundations
Women's Donor Network
Inspired Philanthropy

equity power Advocacy women's sports women's funding economic security feminist women's athletics women's funds women's philanthropy Foundation Center Board women's rights philanthropy Gratitude social change money jobs Board members media CEO Spirit leadership fundraising education development charity civic rights tuti scott