For many years, Title IX has been a hotly debated topic. Some believe the law goes too far, while others believe it hasn't gone far enough. For Title IX investigators, it's important to always remain impartial, carrying out your job according to the law and its current amendments.

To help you stay knowledgeable and skillful, here are five books that you must add to your summer reading list. And, to help you stay impartial, we made sure that the books' authors hold varying opinions of Title IX.

Another must-read is our eBook about the benefits of using software in Title IX investigations. Download it for free here.

Blurred Lines: Rethinking Sex, Power, and Consent on Campus

by Vanessa Grigoriadis

Vanessa Grigoriadis’s exposé, Blurred Lines, focuses on the #MeToo movement and the profound effect it has had on college campuses. In the book, Grigoriadis explains that students have taken on the collective responsibility to make campuses safer.

While writing, the author traveled to schools across the country to speak with those directly impacted by this sexual revolution. She spoke with the students attending the schools and the researchers and administrators employed by them.

This book is a great resource for Title IX investigators who want to know the truth about sex, power and consent on campus.

The Transformation of Title IX: Regulating Gender Equality in Education

by R. Shep Melnick

If you want to learn about Title IX, its implementation and its impact on society, one book to add to your reading list is The Transformation of Title IX. The author, R. Shep Melnick, details the complicated history of Title IX in an accessible, easy-to-read manner.

A Boston College political science professor, Melnick has witnessed firsthand how Title IX has equalized opportunities in athletics and education. However, the author argues that the way society has interpreted “equal educational opportunity” over the years has changed. In this book, he vocalizes the potentially negative implications of new, radical interpretations.

More Than Title IX: How Equity in Education has Shaped the Nation

by Katherine Hanson, Vivian Guilfoy and Sarita Pillai

More Than Title IX goes behind the scenes to tell the stories of those whose actions made real change in educational equity. This book focuses on the people and actions that improved the lives of students in the US.

This book is a great resource for Title IX investigators, experienced or not, seeking to better understand the law’s complex history. In the preface, the authors write:

“Our hope is that this book can also serve as inspiration to a new generation, who will face renewed efforts to limit human rights within a changing economy and global society—in education, legislation, healthcare, childcare, same-sex relationships, religion, and workplaces.”

Twisting Title IX

by Robert L. Shibley

Author Robert L. Shibley offers a critical perspective of Title IX, arguing that the federal law has become a “monster”. He uses this book to explain how Title IX has superseded more dominant laws, including the Constitution and hundreds of years of legal precedent.

Twisting Title IX tells the story of victims who have been let down by the law. Shibley accuses the justice and education departments of neglecting fairness and free speech in favor of personal political beliefs. The book includes suggestions to reduce or prevent the misuse of this law.

The Hunting Ground: The Inside Story of Sexual Assault on American College Campuses

by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering

The Hunting Ground tells the story behind the award-winning documentary of the same name. The film inspired new Title IX laws in New York and California and sparked a vital discussion about sexual assault on campus.

The book features real-life stories of campus sexual assault and the illegal responses from administrators and law enforcement. The book finishes with a chapter titled “How to Get Involved” that offers valuable suggestions for how to end this epidemic.