THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT
Marcia Federbush
May 25, 1934–December 15, 2017
“This isn’t the time to get even; it’s the time to get equity.”
Title IX pioneer and activist for equal opportunity in education and athletics. Elementary school teacher, 1956–1959. Brandeis University, laboratory assistant, 1960–1965. Authored and filed first Title IX complaint against a university, University of Michigan, charging gross discrimination against women in athletics, 1973. National Organization of Women (NOW) action vice president, 1975–1977. United States, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1978–1993. Researched, wrote and presented country’s first study of sex discrimination in a public-school system titled, “Let them Aspire! A Plea and Proposal for Equality of Opportunity for Males and Females in the Ann Arbor Public Schools.” Women’s Equity Action League, dealing with sex discrimination in athletics, 1977-1980. Michigan Project on Equal Education Rights (PEER) of NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, 1979–1984.
More About Marcia:
- Marcia Federbush Obituary (1934 – 2017) – Ann Arbor, MI – Ann Arbor News
- Laurel Federbush pays tribute to her mother, Marcia Federbush
- Marcia Federbush – Michigan Women Forward
- Veteran Feminists of America
- Marcia’s remarks, The Unfinished Business of the Women’s Movement, August 2004
- Marcia shared the panel during Honoring Those Who Made Title IX Happen, November 2002
- Marcia’s remarks, Salute to Feminist Educators & Women’s Studies Founders, June 2001
- Archives
- Marcia Federbush papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan
- Document 22: Marcia Federbush to President Robben W. Fleming, December 1970, U-M President’s Office (1967- ), Topical Files, 1970-1971, Box 24, Women (Discrimination/HEW) Folder, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 2 pp. Included in What Factors Led to the Success of the Historic 1970 Sex Discrimination Complaint Filed against the University of Michigan?
- Marcia Federbush, An “Olympics” Approach: A More Equitable Approach to Athletics than Title IX Offers
- Detroit-Area Feminists Oral Histories, Wayne State University
- Marcia Federbush papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan
- Cited in Barbara Love’s book, Feminists Who Changed America, 1963 – 1975, page, 142