Title IX: Opinions

From May 6-19, 2022, the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center conducted a statewide survey of Oregonians’ values and beliefs, including how they feel about the federal law known as Title IX. The question numbers in this document correspond with the survey questionnaire (Q2, Q7-8, Q10-16, Q19-20, Q28).  

A Positive Outlook on Title IX

Respondents were provided the following preamble: “June marks the 50th anniversary of the federal law Title IX, a law that states: “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.” 

• Democrats are more likely to view Title IX positively (79%) than Republicans (46%) and Independents (58%).  
• Notably, men and women are equally likely to view the law positively (66% and 65%, respectively).  
• Positive impressions increased with higher education and income levels, including 42% among Oregonians with a high school diploma or less education, compared to 79% among college graduates. 

Popular Choice: Create a New Team

If a girl wants to join a school-run sport traditionally limited to boys, or a boy wants to join a school-run sport traditionally limited to girls, Oregonians tend to think the best approach for both situations is to create a new team for that sport (if there’s enough interest among participants) for those genders who are not currently represented (Q7-8). For example: 

• 45% say that if a girl wants to join a school-run sport traditionally limited to boys (like baseball, football, or wrestling), the school should create a girls’ team, given sufficient interest (Q7). This was the preferred approach to this situation for both men and women respondents. It was also the top approach for all political persuasions, regardless of how familiar the respondent was with Title IX.  

• 48% say that if a boy wants to join a school-run sport traditionally limited to girls (like volleyball, softball, or dance team), the school should create a boys’ team, given sufficient interest (Q8). As in the previous question, this was the preferred approach to this situation for both men and women. It was also the top approach for all political persuasions and regardless of how familiar the respondent was with Title IX. 

Aspects of Title IX: Sex-Based Harassment

Respondents were provided a list of aspects of Title IX and were asked whether they support each (Q10-12). A majority of Oregonians support each aspect but survey responses show varying degrees of support.

86% of both men and women support this aspect of Title IX. Strong percentages of Democrats (94%), Republicans (79%), and Independents (85%) support this aspect of the law.  A large majority of Oregonians support this protection, regardless of formal education, with 76% of those with a high school education or less, 88% of those with some college, and 94% supporting this aspect of Title IX.  

Aspects of Title IX: Sexual Orientation

76% support that the current interpretation of Title IX protects students and those involved with schools that receive federal funding from being excluded or discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, with 57% definitely supporting this aspect of the law (Q11).  

• 76% of both men and women support this aspect of Title IX. 
• Democrats are significantly more likely than Republicans (91% vs. 55%) to support this aspect of the law.  
• Multnomah County residents are slightly more likely to support this aspect of the law compared to Oregonians from other parts of the state (83% vs. 74%). 

• Support drops a bit compared to sex-based harassment, but there remains clear support for this aspect of Title IX regardless of education, with 69% of those with a high school education or less, 77% of those with some college, and 84% supporting this aspect of Title IX. 

Aspects of Title IX: Protecting Transgender Students

64% support the current interpretation of Title IX protecting students and those involved with schools that receive federal funding from being excluded or discriminated against if they are transgender, with 45% definitely supporting this aspect of the law (Q12).  

• Women are a bit more likely than men to support this aspect of the law (68% vs. 59%). 
• Again, there is a massive political divide on this aspect of Title IX, with Democrats more than twice as likely as Republicans to support it (86% vs. 32%). Independents (62%) are close to the overall average in their support.  

• Notably, a plurality of women (46%) supports the first option, whereas a plurality of men (46%) supports the second.  
• Again, the largest divide in opinions is along political lines, with 62% of Democrats supporting the first option and 74% of Republicans supporting the second.  
• Oregonians with higher levels of familiarity with Title IX tended to lean towards the first option, with 47% of those who are very or somewhat familiar with Title IX compared to 36% of those who are only a little or not at all familiar with it.  
• The high level of unsure responses indicates this is an emerging issue and opinions are still being shaped by media and thought leaders.  

Opinions on Bathrooms

• Women are more likely than men to feel that transgender students should be allowed to use bathrooms that match their current gender identity (55% vs. 42%).  
• Again, there is a large political divide on this issue, with a strong majority of Democrats (75%) feeling that transgender students should be allowed to use bathrooms that match their current gender identity, compared to a majority of Republicans (66%) who feel that transgender students should only be allowed to use bathrooms that match their birth gender.  
• Multnomah County residents are more likely than Oregonians from other parts of the state to feel that transgender students should be allowed to use bathrooms that match their current gender identity (66% vs. 46%).  
• 50% of Oregonians both with school-age children and without kids agree that transgender students should be allowed to use bathrooms that match their current gender identity.  

Does More Information Change the Outlook?

Respondents who said transgender students should only be allowed to play on sports teams that match their birth gender on Q13 were provided the following information: “Studies have shown that for transgender youth who are at schools that affirm their gender identity, their risk of poor mental health and suicidality decreases.” Knowing this, 85% of these respondents still said that they feel the same way: transgender students should only be allowed to play on sports teams that match their birth gender. 13% said they feel less certain of their opinion and would have to learn more or think about it (Q14). 

• Although a relatively small sample size, women were twice as likely as men (18% vs. 9%) to say they feel less certain of their opinion after being provided that information. 
• Again, a relatively small sample size, but Democrats were five times as likely as Republicans (25% vs. 5%) to say they feel less certain of their opinion after being provided that information.  

Respondents who said that transgender students should only be allowed to use bathrooms that match their birth gender on Q15 were provided the following information: “Studies show that preventing transgender students from accessing bathrooms that match their gender identity is associated with harmful mental health indicators like suicide.” Knowing this, 88% of these respondents still said that they feel the same way: transgender students should only be allowed to use bathrooms that match their birth gender. 10% said they feel less certain of their opinion and would have to learn more or think about it (Q16). 

Other Ways to Increase Equality with Title IX

Oregonians were asked about ways in which Title IX might be used to enforce other aspects of equality in federally-funded schools, as well as which aims of the law they most strongly agree with (Q19).  

89% feel it is appropriate for Title IX to be used to make sure science and technology opportunities in schools are a welcoming space for girls and women (Q19). A strong majority of all demographic groups supported this enforcement goal.  

82% feel it is appropriate for Title IX to be used to bring more sports opportunities for all students into public middle schools. Again, a strong majority of all demographic groups supported this goal.  

72% feel it is appropriate for Title IX to be used to enforce equal broadcasting time for women/men college sports on TV. Women are more likely than men to feel this way (79% vs. 63%), as are Democrats compared to Republicans (82% vs. 56%).  

All Levels of Schooling are Equally Important When it Comes to Enforcing Title IX

When asked at which level of schooling enforcing Title IX becomes most important, one-half of Oregonians (49%) said all school levels are equally important for Title IX enforcement. The next highest responses were high school (12%) and that it depends on which part of Title IX is being evaluated (11%) (Q20).  Women were more likely than men to say all school levels are equally important (56% vs. 41%), as were Democrats compared to Republicans (64% vs. 29%).  One-half of Oregonians both with school-age children and without kids say all school levels are equally important.  

At the end of the survey, respondents were able to provide an open-ended comment about any part of the survey. Below are several quotes related to Title IX (Q28).  

“I am completely convinced that Title IX has made a tremendous difference in women’s sports. During the Olympics and March Madness, I enjoy just as much watching women complete as watching men. The skill level of women athletes has become very high, and I’m sure the opportunities provided by Title IX to girls and young women have been greatly beneficial.”  

Man, age 65-74, Clackamas County, White 

“We need to become more creative in our solutions around sports for our kids and the things that make our communities livable for the people who are here all the time.” 

Woman, age 45-54, Lane County, Asian and White 

“I think consideration for the non-transgender kids should be important. It seems only the transgender and homosexual kids get any protection and consideration.”  

Woman, age 55-64, Washington County, Black or African American 

“Title IX was important in my life as I did play sports and it did very much make a difference in high school.”  

Woman, age 55-64, Clatsop County, Native American, American Indian, or Alaska Native and White 

“Title IX sounds good but can have a devastating impact on female sports programs and threaten the privacy of females. The current law has no common sense incorporated into it. It currently is anti-female in its implementation.”  

Man, age 75+, Washington County, Hispanic/Latino/a/x, Native American, American Indian, or Alaska Native, and White 

“I would like to comment about Title IX and transgender youth competing in sports. Does a biological male who has transitioned to female have a physical advantage over biological females?  Until this can be proven or disproven, I don’t think it’s fair to allow the mixing of transgender/non-transgender (students) on the playing field…I am not opposed to transgender but this whole issue is so new that only in time will some fair and realistic solutions be determined.”  

Prefer not to provide gender, age 65-74, Multnomah County, prefer not to provide race/ethnicity  

Demographic Trends

Identifying What Unites Us, Understanding What Divides Us

Reported below are statistically significant subgroup differences between BIPOC and white Oregonians, urban and rural Oregonians, and age groups.  Many of these differences are not major and are presented to inform public education and communications initiatives.   

• BIPOC and white Oregonians are largely in alignment regarding their opinions of the Title IX law and its enforcement, with very few exceptions: 

• Among those who claim to be familiar with Title IX, white Oregonians are more likely to feel positive towards the law than BIPOC Oregonians (70% vs. 54%) (Q2).  
• BIPOC Oregonians are more likely than white Oregonians to feel that transgender students should be allowed to play on sports teams that match their current gender identity (50% vs. 38%) (Q13). 

Of those who are familiar with Title IX, positive opinions of the impact it has had increase with age, from 52% among those ages 18-29, gradually increasing to 74% of those ages 75 and older (Q2). Those 18-29 were more likely than older Oregonians to say the impact of Title IX has been an equal mix of negative and positive, with 33% of those under 30, steadily declining down to 13% of those 75 or older.  

• On the issue of transgender students playing school sports, Oregonians ages 18-29 (56%) are more likely than all other age groups (30-44%) to say that transgender students should be allowed to play on sports teams that match their current gender identity (Q13).  
• Similarly, Oregonians ages 18-29 (65%) are more likely than all other age groups (39-49%) to say that transgender students should be allowed to use bathrooms that match their current gender identity (Q15).  

• Urban Oregonians who are familiar with Title IX are more likely to view it positively than their rural counterparts (69% vs. 57%) (Q2). 

• Urban Oregonians are nearly twice as likely as their rural counterparts to say that transgender students should be allowed to play on sports teams that match their current gender identity (56% vs. 29%) (Q13).  
• Similarly, urban Oregonians are significantly more likely than their rural counterparts to say that transgender students should be allowed to use bathrooms that match their current gender identity (61% vs. 38%) (Q15). 

Methodology: The online survey consisted of 1,674 Oregon residents ages 18+ and took approximately 15 minutes to complete. Respondents were contacted by using professionally maintained online panels. In gathering responses, a variety of quality control measures were employed, including questionnaire pre-testing, validation, and real-time monitoring of responses. To ensure a representative sample, demographic quotas were set, and data weighted by area of the state, gender, age, and education. 

Statement of Limitations: Based on a 95% confidence interval, this survey’s margin of error for the full sample is ±2.4%. Due to rounding or multiple answer questions, response percentages may not add up to 100%. 

This survey uses aggregated data to analyze the opinions of BIPOC residents in comparison to the opinions of residents who identify as white and not another race. BIPOC residents are not a monolith; the grouping represents a wide diversity of races and ethnicities. The findings included in this memo should not be construed such that all people of color are believed to share the same opinions. Disaggregated race data will be provided when sample sizes permit reliability.