Final answer:
Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972 requires universities to ensure equal opportunities for female students in sports and education. It has been vital in promoting gender equality and preventing discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funding.
Step-by-step explanation:
Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972, which is part of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, plays a crucial role in ensuring gender equality in education by prohibiting discrimination based on sex. The correct answer to the student's question is a) Ensure equal opportunities for female students in sports and education.
This federal statute applies to all educational institutions that receive federal aid. Title IX has been influential in providing a level playing field by requiring that federally funded educational programs, including college athletics, do not allocate more resources to men's programs at the expense of women's programs, ensuring that opportunities are equally available regardless of gender.
The law's impact has been far-reaching, leading to a marked increase in women's participation in professional and graduate programs over the years. For example, it has been a significant factor in the growing number of women in law, medical, and dental schools, as well as the increase in female faculty and administrators in higher education. Furthermore, Title IX protections have also been extended to include transgender students, reinforcing the commitment to prevent sex-based discrimination in schools.