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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Radio 4 Afternoon Drama - blimey!

60 replies

BoreOfWhabylon · 15/06/2021 14:39

Baselines
Drama

A drama by Mark Lawson exploring the challenges of the changing gender identity landscape for sport's governing bodies.

In recent decades, identity categories of all kinds have come to seem fragile and unsettled. Identity has become much more complex, fluid, and fragmented. As new categories have proliferated and old categories have come to seem ill fitting, we increasingly face uncertainties and ambiguities in identifying ourselves and categorising others.

Baselines considers whether male athletes transitioning to become women have an unfair advantage over born women due to their residual muscle density and larger physiques. And if so, how are governing bodies in sport to legislate to ensure a level playing field for all?

It's on now

OP posts:
nauticant · 15/06/2021 15:26

Is the actor playing PJ (the MTF tennis player) actually female?

Rosie Sheehy. See for example: www.facebook.com/thersc/videos/rosie-sheehy-sonnet-66-sonnets-in-solitude/276394320265708/

Using a female actor was either to make a point or was dumb. Listening to someone so clearly female meant that for the first 15 minutes I though the "trick" was that a girl had secretly been playing in the elite under-17s as a boy.

The other thing that continually tripped me up was the reference to "gender" when they clearly were referring expressly to the concept of sex. Going on about "the gender binary" when referring to males and females was irritating.

However, once past these irritations it was unembarrassedly direct about the problems and conflicts that "changing gender" causes in sport and elsewhere.

BoreOfWhabylon · 15/06/2021 15:21

Haydn Gwynn character (the mother) is very very Susie Green. Kid is just confused.

Love the straight-talking* lesbian coach.

*straight as in direct, no bullshit

OP posts:
BoreOfWhabylon · 15/06/2021 15:18

Link
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000615s

OP posts:
BoreOfWhabylon · 15/06/2021 15:18

It's now on Listen Again.

Well worth it. Lawson really has done his research.

OP posts:
TedImgoingmad · 15/06/2021 15:17

This is astonishing! Loving Kerry Fox's character.

BoreOfWhabylon · 15/06/2021 15:04

Wow!

Well done Mark Lawson.

OP posts:
Farinthepast · 15/06/2021 15:03

Missed the first 10 minutes but I really wasn't expecting that. Was this pre Martina Navratilova commenting on transwomen in womens' sports.

WarriorN · 15/06/2021 14:59

"This problem will go away."

"Will it?"

"Solution: transition before puberty"

"Is it?"

WarriorN · 15/06/2021 14:56

@TedImgoingmad

Have started from the beginning. Is the actor playing PJ (the MTF tennis player) actually female?
I think so
WinterIsGone · 15/06/2021 14:56

Here's the link to the original discussion:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3618161-Radio-4-Friday-2-15-Drama

Mark Lawson also wrote another play about cancellation, discussed here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3221184-Radio-4-afternoon-play-Friday-13th-April

WarriorN · 15/06/2021 14:56

June 2019

TedImgoingmad · 15/06/2021 14:56

Have started from the beginning. Is the actor playing PJ (the MTF tennis player) actually female?

CuriousaboutSamphire · 15/06/2021 14:55

Thanks Winter.

WatteauYouTalkingAbout · 15/06/2021 14:55

Yes that line GiantToadstool!

GiantToadstool · 15/06/2021 14:54

I was about to turn it off but really isnt what we'd expecf.

terryleather · 15/06/2021 14:53

Have to confess that as soon as I realised what this was about I switched it off - couldn't face more BBC propaganda around this plus the male tennis player is being played by a girl I think Hmm - but sounds like it might not be what we have come to expect from the BBC on this subject...

WarriorN · 15/06/2021 14:53

Ah I have v vague recollection of hearing a bit of it a while ago...

GiantToadstool · 15/06/2021 14:53

Gosh yes - "next years girls under 17 could be played by the boys finalists from last year."

WinterIsGone · 15/06/2021 14:52

Here's the link
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000615s

thenonsensepotter · 15/06/2021 14:51

I'm listening to this now, and was hoping someone would have already started a thread about it.
Unfortunately I've only started listening to it halfway through so at first I couldn't quite tell angle they were going for.

GiantToadstool · 15/06/2021 14:48

Yes was beginning to think that now.
Wondering if I am overoptimistic!

But at least some good arguments are put forwards.

AntiSocialDistancer · 15/06/2021 14:47

Starting it now thanks

actiongirl1978 · 15/06/2021 14:47

This is a repeat. I heard it originally some time ago. I found it very thought provoking and it opened my eyes.

WarriorN · 15/06/2021 14:47

Hmm not sure - might be highlighting that men wouldn't put themselves through the process in order to get into the women's team.

GiantToadstool · 15/06/2021 14:45

Wow. Is he "girl fridaying" to play as a woman?