The Life of Billy Jean King and Her Participation in Title IX

Who was Billie Jean King? Have you ever heard about him of his influence on the society? This is Title IX essay where we will look at the biography of Billie Jean King. Around the beginning of the twentieth century, it was typical for elite women, or women in college to participate in sports. Although a small group of women then participated in sports, there was very few options in comparison to today, and one of those sports women participated in was tennis. Moving towards the middle of the 20th-century women participated more in professional sports. This allowed women to make a sport a job for them. At this time, women would be paid remarkably less than their male equivalents, and someone who noticed this was Billie Jean King. Billie Jean King was the most impactful American woman of her time because she used her talent in tennis to change the treatment of women in American sports. Over time in her professional career, she noticed the differences as men were regarded in sports in comparison to women. With observing that inequality in tennis, she began a professional career in advocating for women in sports. There were some significant moments in King’s career that allowed her to have this influence women equality such as, the 1973 US Open, the formation of the Women’s Tennis Association, her advocacy LGBTQ community, and her involvement in Title IX. Due to Billie Jean being an accomplished athlete in her time, she achieved many deserving awards and distinctions for her influence in women’s professional sports.

In 1973, Bobby Riggs was a former number one tennis player and had won a match between him and the current top female tennis player Margaret Court. Bobby Riggs felt that the women’s game was so inferior to men’s, and at the age of 55, he claimed to be able to beat any of the top female tennis players. After his match with Court, Riggs invited Billie Jean King to a match. King declined previous challenges from Riggs but accepted his challenge to disprove his unjustified opinions. Although prior to this match it was agreed that the winner whether King or Riggs would get the same amount of prize money, which had never been done in professional sports before. After the intense match, King won against Riggs and earned the prize money of $100,000. To Billie Jean King winning the match not only meant proving Riggs wrong, but she felt she needed to win for women fighting for equality in sports. During the match, it was estimated that 90 million people worldwide watched King’s match versus Riggs, which has never happened in the history of tennis. The 1973 US Open is a historical tennis match in American history because of its powerful role in recognizing and respecting female athletes.

In 1973 as a form of protest to the inequality against women in the United States Lawn Tennis Association King formed the Women’s Tennis Association. The newly formed Women’s Tennis Association consisted of a group of eight other women, and they all signed a one-dollar contract to join Virginia Slims Circuit. Due to the formation of the WTA other female tennis players got the opportunities for better recognition. The equality in pay in women’s tennis caused a similar effect on all women’s sports. Not only do men and women now compete for equal prize money at all four Grand Slam tournaments, but they also attain endorsement deals that were not as common before the WTA. As of now, the WTA has more than 2,500 players associated. Being the courageous founder who created the WTA Billie Jean King has given the well-deserved recognition and equality deserve in the sport of tennis.

Although being a fairly outspoken woman, Billie Jean King kept a very personal secret for about ten years of her life during the height of her tennis career. In the early 70s Billie Jean King began an affair with Marilyn Barnett. After that relationship ended, about ten years later King was forced to come out because of a lawsuit with Barnett. Even after her confession she and her husband Larry remained married until 1987. Due to the lawsuit with Barnett, and the public knowledge of King being a lesbian she ended up losing money in endorsements and sponsors. Even though following the divorce, she remarried to her doubles partner Ilana Kloss. Billie Jean King faced a lot of negative attention for being a gay professional athlete. But Billie Jean King was the first female professional athlete at that status to come out as gay. Due to her sexuality, it pushed her more to fight for the equality of women in sports. Since her coming out she has continued to fight for discrimination, and address equality in the workforce.

With Billie Jean King’s passion for women’s equality, she turned her focus towards helping pass Title IX. Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in all federally funded school programs, including sports. In her strong beliefs, she went to Capitol Hill to testify for Title IX and spoke on its necessity for women to advance in their sport. Title IX had a very significant impact on women at the college level but as well as the professional level. Since Title IX passed female participation has grown over 1100 percent as well as created more opportunities for women in their sports career. On top of Title IX being passed King created the Women’s Sports Foundation to protect the sports side of the title. To this day Title IX is the only law in America that allows women any kind of equality.

During King’s career not only has she accomplished a great amount of success as an athlete but also as an advocate for women’s rights. Due to Billie Jean Kings, dedication and hard work women have equal rights in sports to this day. The Battle of the Sexes match has played a very significant role in the recognition of female athletes and continues to have an impact on women’s sports to this day. Billie Jean’s efforts have not only empowered women in sports but also for equal pay in all areas of the workforce. In recognition for all her efforts on behalf of women and the LGBTQ community, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor, by President Barack Obama. Without King's contributions to women’s professional tennis there may have not ever been a Serena Williams. In conclusion, Billie Jean King is a very important female professional tennis player and made a historical impact in America by using her voice to fight for the rights of women in sports.