What the New Title IX Law Means for Lactation Support

Generations of women have grown up playing sports, but before 1972 there were no protections in place to provide equal educational opportunities. (Ask your grandmother about it!)

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (known as Title IX) was the first time that federally funded elementary, secondary, and postsecondary institutions were required to protect students, teachers, and employees from all forms of sex discrimination. Which meant providing access to sports and other activities that had previously been denied to girls. 

In 2024 Title IX was updated to provide clearer guidelines about the scope of sex discrimination that covers sexual harassment, sexual violence, and gender identity—as well as expanded anti-discrimination protections, including those related to pregnancy. (The final rule went into effect August 1, 2024). 

While Title IX had existing protections against discrimination based on conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth, the 2024 amendment strengthens requirements that schools and postsecondary institutions that receive federal funds provide students and employees with: 

• Reasonable modifications for pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions such as lactation

• Reasonable break time for milk expression

• Access to a clean, private lactation space 

Over the years, individual states have implemented lactation accommodation laws to protect students. Arkansas,  Illinois, and Missouri have lactation accommodation laws that require schools to provide break time and a private place to pump. California law requires postsecondary institutions to have lactation rooms for breastfeeding students. But the amended Title IX will have a positive impact for students in schools and post-secondary institutions across the country by ensuring that they have access to lactation spaces to pump.

Mamava designs solutions to empower breastfeeding and pumping parents on the go, like our freestanding lactation pods, Mamava’s lactation space locator app, and other helpful resources.

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