The comments about sports rang true with me. It pisses me off so so so much.
Women's sport is so far behind men's sport. In recognition, in funding, in interest, in respect, in media reports. So far behind.
In cross country running events, I observe the spectators reactions to the boys races, and to the girls races. Girls - polite applause as the girls run past, occasional shouts of "well run" etc. Boys - jumping and shouting and cheering "GO ON LAD"and crucially - helpful fucking tips yelled out! "Lean forward" "open out your legs" "work your arms" "you are at x distance, in y minutes". Every. Single. Time. The boys races are taken more seriously. No doubt about it.
Running as a lone woman I get comments, cat calls, harassment, car beeps, groups of men running alongside me, laughing. I get scared. I feel shame for my "fat arse". I feel stupid for thinking I can run. It makes me not want to do it. But I need to run several times a week to train. I can't only run when I am feeling brave, or when someone is available to run with me, or when it is light outside. I wouldn't get my training in.
As a teenage girl, I found competing in sporting events awful. It is hard work. It is embarrassing. It is uncomfortable. I worked as hard as the boys, but was taken so much less seriously. It isn't 'cool' to like sports as a girl. Hell, it isn't 'cool' to like sports as a woman in my social group. I was told it was boring to watch. I was boring for doing it. I looked stupid/awkward/fat. People laughed loudly at me. I was told I don't look like a runner. I was too fat to be good at sport.
Anyway - all these things. And then the showers, and periods, and breasts, and the outfits, and the comments about my body, and the doubts about my ability, and the creepy teachers and coaches and other people's dads...
It is hard to play sports as a girl and woman.
And then on top of this...
On top of all of this...
They want males to compete against us.
And they call it "fair".
It makes me angrier than almost anything else in the whole debate. I feel passionate about safe spaces, protecting women generally, transing of children, gay eugenics etc btw, but for whatever reason the sports side of the issue, although not life threatening in a way some other trans issues are, I find triggers absolute rage in me.
The thought that boys and men can claim scholarships for women, take women's medals and podium places, take women's dignity ffs.
And then call it fair. Makes me rage. And weep.