{"id":355645,"date":"2016-04-04T10:41:57","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:41:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/civilrights\/discrimination\/gender-discrimination-in-education.html"},"modified":"2023-09-20T08:46:13","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T13:46:13","slug":"gender-discrimination-in-education","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civilrights\/discrimination\/gender-discrimination-in-education.html","title":{"rendered":"Gender Discrimination in Education"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Gender Discrimination in Education<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lark Lewis, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Gender discrimination happens when someone treats a person unequally based on gender. This discrimination may or may not relate to someone’s sexual orientation<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Sex discrimination occurs when someone treats a person unequally due to their sex. The term "sex" means the biological factor of being female or male.<\/p>\r\n

People often use these terms interchangeably. For anti-discrimination and civil rights law purposes, the words are comparable.<\/p>\r\n

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Basics<\/h2>\r\n

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)<\/a> is a federal agency. The agency enforces various anti-discrimination laws.<\/p>\r\n

It has determined that discrimination based on sex includes gender discrimination. That includes sexual orientation discrimination.<\/p>\r\n

Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Basics<\/h2>\r\n

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education<\/a> enforces Title IX<\/a> violations. That office is relevant to the topic of gender discrimination. Gender discrimination in an education system under Title IX includes traditional sex-based discrimination. It also includes sexual harassment and sexual assault violations.<\/p>\r\n

Gender Discrimination in Education and Title IX<\/h2>\r\n

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972<\/a> (Title IX) is a federal law that states:<\/p>\r\n

"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."<\/p>\r\n

Title IX applies to all educational institutions that get federal funds. That includes public schools and private institutions.<\/p>\r\n

Almost all private colleges and universities must follow Title IX regulations. This is because they get federal funding. That funding comes through federal financial aid programs used by their students.<\/p>\r\n

Title IX applies to every aspect of education, including:<\/p>\r\n