#patsy mink

Happy heavenly birthday to Rep. Patsy Mink (1927-2002) of Hawaii! 🎉 Today, we celebrate her glass-breaking legacy as the first woman of color elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first Asian American woman to serve in Congress in 1965. 

Rep. Mink helped shape landmark legislation like Title IX — later renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act — which prohibits gender discrimination in federally-funded school and sports programs. 

Rep. Patsy Mink (D-Hawaii) was the first Asian-American woman elected to Congress

Serena Williams at the Family Circle Cup Tennis Tournament, Daniel Island, SC. 4/17/2002. NARA ID 6627636.

Women Soccer Team USA Celebrate, 2015. Obama Library, NARA ID 219775427

Celebrate Title IX's 50th!

By Miriam Kleiman, Public Affairs (who played on the Byron Jr. High softball team thanks to Title IX).

Before Title IX, 1 in 27 girls played sports. Today that # is 2 in 5.

We're celebrating Title IX's 50th with a document display, sports exhibit, great programs and expanded online resources.

Title IX, part of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, prohibits sex discrimination in education programs supported by federal $. While it dramatically increased the # of women playing sports by guaranteeing equal opportunity, it did not guarantee equal spending. Women’s athletic budgets and scholarship funds still lag far behind men’s. The fight for Title X is part of continued advocacy for women’s rights - a fight that continues today.

Title IX–related Document Display: The Patsy Mink Act Through September 7, 2022, West Rotunda Gallery, National Archives Museum DC Denied entry to med school because of her sex, Patsy Mink entered law school instead. She was the 1st Asian American and 1st woman of color elected to Congress, where she co-authored and fought for Title IX - later renamed the “Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act.” The display includes the Senate vote tally for S. 659 (Title IX) and Public Law 107-255:  honoring Rep. Patsy Mink.

Upcoming Exhibit: All American: The Power of Sports National Archives Museum, DC, 9/16/22 through 1/7/2024

All American features a section on Title IX, including a display of the original Title IX.  All American features Althea Gibson, Kathrine Switzer, Billie Jean King, #SheBelieves (Women's World Cup), the WNBA, Dominique Dawes, and more! Press release here. All American: The Power of Sports is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of AT&T, AARP, and Jacqueline B. Mars. Additional support provided by HISTORY® and the Lawrence F. O'Brien Family. 

Related programs and online resources: 

Records in the National Archives Catalog relating to Patsy Mink

Honoring Notable Asian Pacific Americans for APA Heritage Month

Celebrate the 50th of Title IX with Archival Footage of Sporting Legends

Title IX and Women’s Soccer in NARA’s Film Holdings

Women's Rights: Legislation and Advocacy

Rightfully Hers: documents from the fight for woman suffrage

Working for Suffrage: How Class and Race Shaped the Suffrage Movement

Online Exhibit: Rightfully Hers highlights, Google Arts and Culture

Women's Rights: Records, information, and resources

DocsTeach: primary sources for teaching about Women's Rights 

Women and the Vote: 19th Amendment, Power, Media, and the Making of a Movement

Records Reveal Women’s Equal Rights Struggles - National Archives News 

“Sports Illustrated reports the Democratic congresswoman introduced the “Protect Women’s Sports Act of 2020″ on Thursday, aiming to prevent people who were identified as males at birth from participating in women’s sports. The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), would block schools from receiving federal funding if they allow transgender girls and women and non-binary people to compete in athletic programs or activities designated for females.”

Run the woooorld, girls! I’m so glad I had the opportunity to draw these ten American women for The Hundred Women project. Check it out on Instagram @thehundredwomenproject for mine and more artworks from women around the world.