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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think people who say women's football & tennis isn't as skilled as men's because the men (or even untrained boys) would beat them are missing the point?

161 replies

Carla786 · 24/03/2026 06:49

I've been down a rabbit hole about the 1971 Mexico Women's World Cup, and it's got me interested in women's football now. I've always been interested in tennis. Anyway, it's struck me, reading MN threads, that a lot of posts seem to miss the point about physical strength differences between men and women.
Men obviously are able to kick/hit balls etc with more power, because of higher testosterone. It's incoherent to claim this makes women players 'less good'. Sports are generally an area where it doesn't make sense to compare women to men : the women's game should be judged on its own terms.

OP posts:
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IceStationZebra · 24/03/2026 07:36

Doranottheexplorer · 24/03/2026 07:31

I think lots of men overestimate their abilities.

Yes. If put to the test, a lot of (if not most) untrained men would
not be better than elite women. It’s just bragging.

MontyDong · 24/03/2026 07:32

I’d make a distinction between tennis and football here. Women’s tennis is just as skilful as men’s, if not more so- the fact that women are less strong means it’s a less a game about pure power.

Women’s football is a bit different, as it’s far less well funded and developed than the men’s game. This means that female players have received less training and for a shorter period. In terms of skill it reminds me more of the men’s game 40+ years ago- if you watch old matches you can see that it was played quite differently.. The current England men’s team would wipe the floor with the 1966 team, despite them having won the World Cup and our lot having won nothing. As time passes and more money goes int the women’s game, this difference will be lost.

I also think the women’s game would be better to watch if they played on slightly smaller pitches but that’s impractical.

Doranottheexplorer · 24/03/2026 07:31

I think lots of men overestimate their abilities.

SixSevenShutUp · 24/03/2026 07:30

Nosejobnelly · 24/03/2026 07:21

I speak to DH about this and he says it’s a much slower game so he gets bored (and he’s a massive footie fan).

Gosh, your husband has spoken. Must be like hearing the word of God, eh?!

lifeturnsonadime · 24/03/2026 07:29

Only sexist people would think otherwise.

Mumteedum · 24/03/2026 07:24

Imagine if we'd built football pitches to a scale relative to the size and strength of women instead of men. It wouldn't be slow then.

Nosejobnelly · 24/03/2026 07:21

I speak to DH about this and he says it’s a much slower game so he gets bored (and he’s a massive footie fan).

MustBeThursday · 24/03/2026 07:15

I feel like women’s footballers actually have to have more technical skill precisely because they can’t just boot the ball from one end of the pitch to the other. DH agrees.

TheKeatingFive · 24/03/2026 07:14

Absolutely OP. That's why I find gymnastics such an interesting sport, because it flexed the women's sport towards things that female bodies are better at (balance, extension, flexibility) and kept the men's more focused on strength.

And women's sports should not be open to men. I find it extraordinary that anyone would argue otherwise.

ScarlettSarah · 24/03/2026 07:09

I agree, OP. Brute strength and stamina does not necessarily equate to greater 'skill', but it is why we have separate male/female categories.

Original poster
Carla786 · 24/03/2026 06:58

I suppose it struck me particularly because probably most MN posters would agree TW shouldn't play in women's sports, because of that inherent physical advantage. So it's odd to see posts framing the fact men have higher T, or that untrained teen boys can beat top women players, as meaning that women's sport is less skilled intrinsically.

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