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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Sonia O'Sullivan "Transgender athletes cannot be allowed to compete in women's sport"

53 replies

OstrichFeathers · 24/03/2022 15:11

I've always been a big fan of Sonia O'Sullivan, she seems a knowledgeable, kind and fun person. I'm delighted to see her coming out firmly here. She has skirted around it a bit before, so it's good to see her so decisive.

www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/sonia-o-sullivan-transgender-athletes-cannot-be-allowed-to-compete-in-women-s-sport-1.4834586

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SolasAnla · 03/04/2022 21:42

Google her name with "twitter" and the article is tweeted. The account looks as if its run by the publisher / publicity manager.
The article is behind a paywall.
But if the hyperbolic headline and the opening I played Camogie once represents the tone of the article it will be #bekind.

mobile.twitter.com/oneilllo/status/1510532518554046466?cxt=HHwWhMC44dHUvvYpAAAA

Did she missed or examine the bias in Irish sports and where tax payers money allocated?

^The Oireachtas Committee on Sport has said it will investigate how €3.7 million was paid out by the Government to support Gaelic games players last year but of that, €3 million was allocated to teams and just €700,000 for .

www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gpa-and-wgpa-vote-to-combine-into-one-players-association-1.4436840

Gold star for who guessed the sex correctly without reading the Irish Times article.

I am guessing they had to get someone Irish to write a counterargument.

OstrichFeathers · 03/04/2022 11:18

Thanks Solas, it was the pub gbh one I couldn't remember.

I see someone else has a thread about the Louise O'Neill piece in The Times. I presume it's the Irish author? (I don't have an account so can't check) It amazes me that she doesn't see the self destructive behaviour in teen girls transitioning, given her own history of disordered eating and its impacts.

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SolasAnla · 02/04/2022 22:50

@OstrichFeathers

I thought it was three in Limerick too, but can only think of two as well, Fiona.

I saw Joanne O'Riordan had an alternative opinion piece during the week.

3 1 child sex abuse was in court earlier this year looking for a reduction in sentence (6.5 yr) which was denied. 1 drunken GBH on 3 men in a pub in Dublin. 1 in custody denied bail charges pending for plans to harm 2 people (thats the one the media cant report prior VAW on).
FionaMacCool · 02/04/2022 22:25

Yes, Ostrich, I was disappointed to see Joanne's piece. I know she doesn't like being a poster girl for inspiration- but the fact is that her words carry weight.

Sorry Joanne,

Woman=/= detestosteronised man

Genesis1v27 · 02/04/2022 22:01

Link to the Joanne O'Riordan piece: www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/if-you-want-to-protect-women-s-sport-great-but-don-t-disregard-entire-transgender-community-1.4840236

Contains much emotive hyperbole.

OstrichFeathers · 02/04/2022 19:38

I thought it was three in Limerick too, but can only think of two as well, Fiona.

I saw Joanne O'Riordan had an alternative opinion piece during the week.

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FionaMacCool · 02/04/2022 18:18

@Abhannmor you may be right- I know of BK + one other.

nldnmum02 · 02/04/2022 18:11

Good for her!

Abhannmor · 02/04/2022 18:01

@FionaMacCool

I drove past Limerick jail during the week, and commented how sad it was that there were 2 transwomen there. None of the 3 with whom I was travelling knew the story. Hmm Sad
I thought it was 3 sex offenders in Limerick? Or are there others in Dublin?
FionaMacCool · 01/04/2022 22:12

I drove past Limerick jail during the week, and commented how sad it was that there were 2 transwomen there.
None of the 3 with whom I was travelling knew the story. Hmm Sad

Genesis1v27 · 01/04/2022 13:31

Aoife Martin piece on The Journal yesterday: 'Those who wouldn't cross the road for women's sport are now upset by trans women in sport'

Quite disingenuous as expected. No one opposes transpeople participating in sport, they oppose trans males in female sports. And pushing in in the manner they are requires an appropriate pushback and proper re-examination of the issues.

Unfortunately, women's prisons, refuges etc. aren't really on people's (men's) radar, so they don't give a shit. Whoever said on this site that it would be sport that would peak people was right, the unfairness is so obvious.

Sport is bringing the subject to light in a way that can't be easily hidden. Politicians, the authorities and the media in Ireland have been effectively suppressing the fact that there are at least two males in Limerick Women's Prison, for example. And at least some men do care about that; many women, including our current Minister for Justice, really do not.

Roseglen84 · 01/04/2022 11:32

I really hope this sparks some soul searching in Ireland, as the silence has been deafening in the media generally about these issues up until this point.
Unfortunately, women's prisons, refuges etc. aren't really on people's (men's) radar, so they don't give a shit. Whoever said on this site that it would be sport that would peak people was right, the unfairness is so obvious.

Abhannmor · 01/04/2022 09:14

@Drinkingallthewine

Sonia is utterly iconic and a household name throughout Ireland. This is bloody brilliant.
Our greatest ever sports person of either sex. She knows all about cheating too. Was robbed of the gold in Barcelona by 3 Chinese girls who were never heard of again.
Drinkingallthewine · 31/03/2022 16:00

Sonia is utterly iconic and a household name throughout Ireland. This is bloody brilliant.

Enough4me · 28/03/2022 20:43

As in men!

Enough4me · 28/03/2022 20:42

WTF! Black women and white women are women. TWATW.

SallyLockheart · 28/03/2022 18:20

Just listened to Sara Phillips and I am so cross. Utter hypocrite. Compares black women being able to compete against white women being a similar case to trans women competing against women.

Abhannmor · 28/03/2022 18:07

@OstrichFeathers that is so true. I know sports mad people who are quite unaware of this. I would take someone like Sonia to even get it on the radar.

OstrichFeathers · 28/03/2022 16:09

@EarringsandLipstick

The This Week item was very good, especially Niall Moyna's unequivocal statement of facts
That was a very good listen. And a very middle of the road audience who may have never heard anything of these discussions before.
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EarringsandLipstick · 28/03/2022 15:35

The This Week item was very good, especially Niall Moyna's unequivocal statement of facts

Genesis1v27 · 28/03/2022 12:09

Sonia O'Sullivan's article has prompted more mainstream coverage in Ireland of male athletes in women's sports:

Newstalk Lunchtime Live:
'The idea that trans athletes are taking over sport is not true' with Joanna Harper
Powerlifter calls for 'a separate category' for trans athletes with Rehana Manier (partial transcript)

Newstalk Hard Shoulder:
'A societal thing rather than a sport thing' with Sara Phillips from TENI (partial transcript)

RTÉ Radio 1 This Week:
Transgender athletes in elite sports with former olympian Gillian O'Sullivan, sports scientist Niall Moyna and Sara Phillips from TENI

Enough4me · 28/03/2022 00:08

Sharron Davies is so rightly passionate and clear about the impact to women being pushed aside by men. She's amazing, must get so much hate mail yet her drive continues. Reading her posts and liking her on Twitter cheers me up when I see the 'pretty' filtered photos of Will Thomas and hear he's now reported to be 5ft8 not his real 6ft2 to try to normalise what he's doing - cheating.

InexperiencedDogOwner · 27/03/2022 23:05

Sharron Davies is being very vocal about it all as well on Twitter. It's very refreshing to see. I just hope more sportspeople start to speak out

ChuckBerrysBoots · 25/03/2022 16:30

Loved Sonia as a child, delighted she’s standing up for the rights of women as an adult. Thank you Sonia!

SpinningTheSeedsOfLove · 25/03/2022 16:11

I watched Sonia race in a half marathon once. She ran up to and across that finish line like a bloody rocket. I've never forgotten it.

She is a wonderful, knowledgeable, ethical, and elite female athlete with decades of experience behind her.