Feminists against sex segregation in sports

[Tandora]

AIBU to share a different perspective on a subject that seems to be almost entirely taken for granted on mumsnet? This is not something I have a definite opinion on myself (although I am against sex testing and I fully support the rights of trans women and women with differences in sex development to compete alongside other women in sporting competitions at all levels).

However I have found it really upsetting the degrading way that people have been speaking recently about top/ elite female athletes; denigrating their sporting prowess, and portraying them as weak, feeble and helpless, particularly in the wake of this boxing match controversy.

I started looking into opinions on the issue, starting with a search on “feminists against sex segregation in sport”. I came across this really interesting article.

AIBU to share?

journals.library.wustl.edu/lawreview/article/3150/galley/19983/view/

Female athletes are not weak, feeble and helpless - far from it.

But there is an inescapable biological difference between female and male physique, and women cannot compete directly against men on equal terms in most sports. Anyone who thinks they can is an idiot.

However I have found it really upsetting the degrading way that people have been speaking recently about top/ elite female athletes; denigrating their sporting prowess, and portraying them as weak, feeble and helpless

I'd seriously rethink the types of media you are consuming.

Have you ever played sports, swam, or ran competitively OP?

On today’s episode of “menz feelz trump women’s rights”.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

However I have found it really upsetting the degrading way that people have been speaking recently about top/ elite female athletes; denigrating their sporting prowess, and portraying them as weak, feeble and helpless, particularly in the wake of this boxing match controversy.

Don't be disingenious, no-one has done any such thing. They have correctly pointed out the vast physical differences between male and female bodies.

What a pile of bullshit.

The unreferenced “1.7 babies out of every 1000” do not have chromosomes that match their sexual organs wound me up… but the few examples of 1 woman beating or matching a men’s time does not mean we should get rid of men’s sports.
If I look at my local parkrun times for this week (and pretty much every week), the first 100 finishers are all men. Yes, if I trawl through loads of data, I can probably find an example of 1 woman who is faster. However this is not evidence!

If we don’t have women’s categories, women don’t get the opportunity to win.

Hahahahah sure, you have no definite opinion, you've just done about a zillion posts on numerous threads posting opinions dressed up as fact in favour of men being able to beat up women under the cover of "sport". But no definite opinion. Sure.

But to answer your 'question' (ha), no, it is not denigrating elite female athletes to point out that we have sex segregation in sport because men have significant sporting advantages over women. Nor is it denigrating children to have age segregated completions, nor is it being mean to featherweight boxers to be clear there's a reason they don't fight in the heavyweight category.

It is idiotic* to pretend otherwise.

*other illuminating words are available

Like mumsnet? Yeh I’ve been meaning to take a break, it’s toxic recently.

Anyone actually read the article?

So you're defending men in women's sports.

Not remotely feminist.

Are you an elite sportsperson OP?

Annnnd it’s time for these yet again

as usual I’m just embarrassed for you OP

Why do you think transwomen should be competing against women in women's sports? Do you not understand that males are stronger than females? How can any adult not get this?

although I am against sex testing and I fully support the rights of trans women and women with differences in sex development to compete alongside other women in sporting competitions at all levels)

So you're quite comfortable with a mediocre man pretending he is a trans woman and beating the living daylights out of your daughter? Wow.

At least you're honest about it, that something!

You think it's toxic that feminists don't want to see female athletes get the shit beaten out of them by males at the Olympics? Are you a fan of VAWG by men? Do you view it as entertainment?

I've not seen anyone describing the female athletes as weak, feeble or helpless. Could you give some examples of where you've seen this ie actual quotes?

No, women should compete against women.

if there is any doubt then these individuals shouldn’t be in the women’s category

“(although I am against sex testing and I fully support the rights of trans women and women with differences in sex development to compete alongside other women in sporting competitions at all levels)”

What “rights” would these be then OP? There is a reason it is banned within many governing bodies.

Nobody has any right to compete for starters, it’s a hard-earned privilege

And there is NO place for men to compete against women. Period

You've been meaning to take a break?

Good. Off you trot then.

fully support the rights of trans women and women with differences in sex development to compete alongside other women in sporting competitions at all levels

Yabu, males being in women’s sports is ridiculous and unfair as well as unsafe in some sports.

I've read some of the article, and the premise is nonsense. They seem to be arguing that if we want equality between the sexes, then there shouldn't be sex segregation.

They obviously haven't researched sex based differences and don't realise that women simply can't compete with men. Due to physiological differences and male puberty, even boys can beat grown women.

By equality, women don't mean physical equality as that's impossible.

(although I am against sex testing and I fully support the rights of trans women and women with differences in sex development to compete alongside other women in sporting competitions at all levels).

Tell the truth - you are fully on board with men competing against women in all sports and at all levels, you do not support women or women sports at all. You want men to have everything and women to have nothing.

You are no feminist.

You don’t box, run or swim with your feelings or self perception. You do it with your body, your sexed body. Anything other than sex segregation will mean more and more women will be pushed out of their own category.

It’s abhorrent to suggest female athletes who spend years/decades honing their skills should step aside for men.

The academic that wrote that article is a law Prof and not a biologist, that’s all I need to know.

Ah so you support male violence against women in the name of sport then? You hero!

And if we did remove the female category what would these poor males do? They’re not very good are they otherwise they’d just compete in the male category.