Book censorship attempts on the rise

September 22, 2022
Author events Book news Intersectional Title IX

Requests for book censorship are a bigger problem than ever before, the American Library Association announced as part of Banned Books Week, September 18-24, 2022.

In 2021, 729 requests tried to ban 1,597 books. So far in 2022, 681 attempts tried to ban 1,651 books, on a pace to break the record for book censorship activity in the 20+ years that the American Library Association has been tracking it.

This blog focuses on Title IX and its prohibition of sex discrimination in education. Attempts to ban books don’t fit neatly into that niche. But consider this: People and organizations that try to ban books from schools, universities, and public libraries focus on books that deal with LGBTQIA+ topics or that include any mention of sex or that challenge discrimination, especially race discrimination. Data show that sex discrimination disproportionately targets students of color and queer or transgender students. If we’re concerned about sex discrimination in schools, we should be concerned about attempts to prohibit books that address these topics.

Take the top 10 books that attracted challenges to accessibility in 2021, for example. Among the reasons given for wanting to ban these books, five contained LGBTQIA+ content, eight contained sexual references, and at least two deal with social injustices like race discrimination in ways that the complainants didn’t like.

You can see ideas on how to respond to censorship attempts at Unite Against Book Bans and programs happening as part of Banned Books Week. And as an author I can’t help saying, buy a book from the Banned Books list and give it to someone you love!

Elsewhere

The University of Michigan agreed to pay $490 million to former students who said they were abused by former team doctor Robert Anderson. A federal appeals court revived a lawsuit against Ohio State University by men who were sexually assaulted over decades by sports team doctor Richard Strauss. An investigation by the University of Maryland, Baltimore found that a coach sexually harassed swimmers and created a hostile environment during his 20 years there.

The clock tower at University of Toledo (by Xurxo, via Wikimedia Commons)

The federal Office for Civil Rights is investigating the University of Toledo, Ohio after multiple complaints about sexual assault, sexual harassment, and emotional abuse by a former soccer coach. An investigation into decades of faculty sexual misconduct at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. found that the school didn’t even have written policies and procedures for appropriate conduct.

A former professor sued Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. for sex- and race-based harassment during her time there. A former student at Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa filed a Title IX complaint and sued the school for failing to properly investigate break-ins in student housing targeting women. Stony Brook (N.Y.) University suspended a fraternity after a student reported being sexually assaulted by its members and alleged that 40 other students described sexual misconduct there.

The Supreme Court reversed itself and said that Yeshiva University, New York must comply with a state order to recognize a campus LGBTQ group. In response, the university halted all undergraduate clubs, which prompted the YU Pride Alliance to announce that it would voluntarily pause its demand for official recognition while its lawsuit progresses so that other campus groups may continue. After months of protests against Seattle Pacific University’s anti-LGBTQ hiring policy, 16 students, faculty and staff sued the school’s board of trustees, claiming they breached their fiduciary duties and harmed the college by supporting the policy.

Virginia’s governor proposed new policies to restrict the rights of transgender students. The law office of Franczek posted a pretty good summary of where things are at with LGBTQ+ protections under Title IX. Long-time Title IX champion Donna Lopiano took some heat during an interactive forum at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell not only for her controversial position on limiting transgender athletes in schools but for twice using a racially insensitive slur during the discussion.

Screen shot of the *Science* article on the gender pay gap for academic scientists.

Lastly, in the Miscellaneous basket: A study of more than 2,300 faculty members in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and medicine) found a record number of women scientists teaching but with pay levels lower than men, Science reported. A family in Charlotte, N.C. filed a Title IX complaint against Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools alleging discriminatory dress codes and shaming of female students. And St. Cloud (Minn.) State University recognized the 800-pound-gorilla in the room that was preventing it from offering equitable athletics opportunities to both men and women under its current budget, so it cut its football program to comply with a judge’s order.

On the up side

It’s an election year. Take advantage of that to elect politicians who understand and will fight for Title IX and civil rights in education.

Where you’ll find me

Out on the campaign trails, that’s where! Our democracy needs us right now to volunteer for canvassing, phone banking, poll working, and generally getting out the vote for the November 8 elections. Could you contact three friends this week to make sure they have plans to vote? I’ll be volunteering in New Hampshire. Other than that, look for me here:

Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Central — The University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Women in Law hosts an online conversation with me as part of their “Ex Libris” authors series.

Monday, October 24, 5 p.m. — Le Moyne College invited me to speak on Title IX. If you’re near Syracuse, come through!

Friday, October 28, 2022, 9 a.m. Central — I’ll be an in-person panelist at Northwestern University’s three-day conference, “Title IX at 50: Past. Present. Future?”

November 12, 2022 — I’m looking forward to two appearances at the National Women’s Studies Association conference in Minneapolis. Join me first at a 9:30 a.m. panel on “Women’s Politics: Finding a Way Out of No Way,” and then at a Feminist Author Showcase at 1:15 p.m. Central time.

February 2023 — I’ll speak at Iowa State University’s Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics in Ames, Iowa. Stay tuned for details.

*** Would you like to set up an in-person or Zoom session with me for your organization or book club? Reach me through my Contact page.***

The Nation magazine published an excerpt from my chapter 5, which introduces Title IX’s application by the movement against sexual violence. I published an article in the Washington Post’s Made by History section, this one on “The true mother of Title IX. And why it matters now more than ever.” The Christian Science Monitor included 37 Words in two articles — a cover story on “Title IX at 50” and a sidebar examining the racial gap among women athletes in colleges. Read about the Supreme Court’s history of curtailing Title IX and other civil rights laws in my article in The Washington Post Made by History section. The Washington Monthly gave 37 Words a fine review — check it out. The Wall Street Journal published a review of my book and I wrote a Letter to the Editor correcting some misinformation in that review. See other previous appearances and media coverage of 37 Words listed here.