Browse Exhibits

The words “too strong for a woman” changed the course of women’s sports history and society. Bernice Sandler was discriminated against with these words, which brought to light the lack of protection women within higher education had against sex discrimination (Smith, 2011). This lead to a reform of sport towards equality for women in sports, which began with Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972 (Smith, 2011). After years of reform of the sex discrimination issue within other aspects of commercial life, the pressure was on for improvements of discrimination within higher education, and therefore, associated athletics. This changed binary sex roles as society knew them and faced much backlash because of this (Holland et al., 1979). Title IX provided a space for women in sports at a federal level, and the athletics of Trinity University adjusted, as well.