Jere Longman's recent article in the New York Times "For women at Games, messages are mixed" illustrates the struggles that women athletes still face in many cultures. 

In the United States Title IX was signed on June 23, 1972 by President Richard Nixon with the intention of prohibiting gender based discrimination by institutions that receive federal money. "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."  

Although Title IX is attributed to sports it also mandates equal opportunity in education. It is in education as well as in sports that the results staggering. 

In 1972 women received 9% of medical degrees. Today they receive 48% of all medical degrees. 

In 1972 7% of women earned law degrees, 19 % received doctoral degrees and women comprised just 30 % of college students.