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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Parkrunners! Parkrun survey

209 replies

Parkrunners · 18/10/2024 10:25

If anyone is a parkrunner and has a survey from them, I'd urge you to fill it in. There are two free text sections which provide an opportunity to tell them exactly what the impact of their sexist policy decision not to protect the female sex category has been. They have clearly commissioned this survey to gather data on the mental health and motivation and self esteem and self achievement benefits of Parkrun, as well as its competitive benefits and self-competition benefits, but none of that has been protected for women and girl runners who have effectively been told that Parkrun cannot be bothered to collect accurate sex category data for them, because we somehow don't count. What is it meant to do to the motivation and mental health of female runners to be told we are so second class that our sex category doesn't matter and can be dispensed with?

As a middle aged woman, I am particularly pissed off as the only way I can tell if my running performance is declining, maintaining or improving is to compare myself to others in the same age or sex category. And I can only do this if the sex category is protected.

I am really sick of Parkrun both knowing full well the importance of age and sex data for running and for their Parkrun model, and knowing full well they cannot remove this as the men would not stand for it, whilst also pretending none of this matters and they are just a fun little social run when they need to pretend its ok to record runners under gender identity. Parkrun are trying to maintain a position of both recording this data and pretending it doesn't matter. This is nonsensical.

OP posts:
Elizo · 18/10/2024 17:50

As a middle aged woman I can see if I.m improving by looking at my own times. This is a big fuss about nothing. Park run has been instrumental to improving my mental health. I must do the survey to tell them

WomanWithoutNeedOfPrefix · 18/10/2024 17:46

I responded and had a lot to say in the free text box :)

Even the diversity questions at the beginning asked for gender (but gave the options male/female/prefer not to say) with no option to say 'I do not have a gender (you sexist bunch of idiots)'.

MrsJamin · 18/10/2024 17:05

I don't get the emails either as I can't stand their stance. Please can everyone respond who has this link.

Stretchedresources · 18/10/2024 14:24

"As a middle aged woman, I am particularly pissed off as the only way I can tell if my running performance is declining, maintaining or improving is to compare myself to others in the same age or sex category. And I can only do this if the sex category is protected."

Yes this. I didn't answer it quite as well as this. But hopefully they got the gist of it. I'm slowing as I age. But I need to know whether I'm still in the above average healthy range for my age and sex or something is going wrong. And I like checking the ultra speedy parkrunner times and seeing where the first woman is. Although I realise that may not always be a woman now.

ahagwearsapointybonnet · 18/10/2024 12:10

Thanks. I have reregistered (at least for now), so will see if I get one but may have missed it. DH may have one though!

CheeseWisely · 18/10/2024 12:09

ahagwearsapointybonnet · 18/10/2024 11:59

Is there a way of getting to the survey if you have emails from them deactivated, do you know? I am registered but switched off emails a while back. Also does it look as though it's been sent to everyone, or just a select group? Thanks!

It does say not to share the link as it's unique to the recipient but not sure if it's gone out across the board or to a group.

AuntieStella · 18/10/2024 12:04

Point of detail - the main way you can tell if you’re improving is by looking at your age/sex percentage.

That is calibrated against the record times run in affiliated events (not parkrun)

And yes, parkrun has very firmly said that as an institution it is about participation and its view on inclusivity. Last time round it even said it would go away with publishing results completely if that was what was necessary.

ahagwearsapointybonnet · 18/10/2024 11:59

Is there a way of getting to the survey if you have emails from them deactivated, do you know? I am registered but switched off emails a while back. Also does it look as though it's been sent to everyone, or just a select group? Thanks!

CheeseWisely · 18/10/2024 10:38

Done ✔️

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