Trans people being allowed to compete against women in the Olympics

[OhShutUpThomas]

The Olympics are now allowing men who have taken hormones for 12 months compete against women.

It is NOT transphobic to say that this is grossly unfair and a huge violation of women's rights.

Women who have trained all their lives cannot be expected to compete against people with male bodies and who will be allowed roughly 4 times the normal female testosterone levels.

It's not on. We can't stand for it.

Please get behind this mumsnet. Someone needs to take a stand.

It's NOT transphobic to state that this is unfair. It really isn't.

Thanks for the reply.

A webchat with someone from the IOC would be amazing, if it can be managed. Or failing that, someone from a women's athletics body?

Thanks.

A representative of the Women's Sports Federation would be good, having seen their position document upthread.

Also, (tangentially related) I would LOVE to hear Maria Miller on the subject of the input that has been taken in consultaion on trans-realted issues, especially form what she calls 'purported feminists'.

It would be very useful indeed to hear what and who she meant by that and whether she recognises that ordinary British women DO have some legitimate (and not bigoted) concerns about what happens when the interests of born women come into direct conflict with those of transwomen.

Webchat sounds fab to me too (and maria miller)

I wish the minority would post though, i just cant see where they are coming from at all, and without them posting there is no chance of finding out. Perhaps you could outline their general points, if they went into detail? Would that be possible or dodgy on confidentiality..?

I would be SO there for a webchat with Maria Millar.

I would really appreciate it if MN would host an IOC web chat on this issue. Thank you, MNHQ.

I would also appreciate it if MNHQ would post a summary of the 'minority position' as I can't even imagine what their arguments are at the moment.

Furious about this, how dare they make this call and not only wipe out women's sport, but put them in actual danger.

Nicola Adams won the first Olympic gold medal in female boxing - what a win for feminism to finally have female boxing recognised. This year she could be forced to fight a man in order to try and keep her title. In fact, in theory, she could end up going down in history as the only woman to ever win the women's Olympic boxing gold medal. What progress

And another thought. If men are now going to be allowed to fight women professionally, and the governing bodies call this fair, what sort of message does that send out about male violence against women? That actually, its no big deal because really, despite what your eyes and brain might tell you, men have no physical advantage over women....

I think I'd especially like to see a web-chat on this with a prominent female athlete. Look forward to seeing where this goes HQ

Great, so because a vocal (deluded) minority go against the overwhelming majority who are outraged by this outrageous turn of events, we all have to stfu and accept it.

Probably the same as ices position. Women's sport should be eradicated, so it doesn't matter
I can't fathom why anyone can think like that but hey ho.
And I would love a webchat with someone from the IOC.

Apart from maybe 1-2 posters I really can't see this strong polarization. It seems pretty overwhelmingly unanimous to me. (re poll thread and this thread).

Why should 1-2 posters get to dictate to everyone what views are challenged and which aren't. This is sickening.

Someone on my Facebook (who I really thought better of) is arguing that excluding any man with testosterone under 10nmol/L from competing against women would be like excluding women who are stronger or faster than other women. Head. Desk.

Disappointed that MN is failing a huge majority of its members - and dissapointed that you are failing your daughters - if this goes ahead I suspect sports for girls will be very limited after primary and funding and sponership will gradually fade away in the next 10 years or so. Its really back to Zumba for women isnt it.

Also very disappointed - the unanimity on this issue is almost overwhelming.

Yet MN chooses to listen to a tiny , tiny minority, and meekly accept the erosion of women's sports, and concomitantly, women's rights.

This is outrageous.

I am angry with the Olympic committee and all those who have contributed to that farce but I remain grateful to MN for giving us this platform and actually a lot of protection to have this discussion. We don't have to be hidden on a secret and private part of the internet or risking attacks through our personal social media to talk about this - how many other mainstream websites would be brave enough given the huge hostility from various pressure groups?

Having a webchat would be brilliant, any chance to have a reasoned discussion about the massive implications of this decision would be very valuable.

MNHQ I do hope that your comment on polarized views wasn't anything to do with my posts! That would be a massive misreading of both my posts and the thread!

I certainly think it is a ridiculous rule change that will heap embarrassment on all sorts of groups. I believe women only competitions are daft and anti-feminist, but having women only competitions that some people with male biology can enter is even more daft and anti-feminist.

Would be great to have a web chat with a sporting body, MNHQ.

Great, so because a vocal (deluded) minority go against the overwhelming majority who are outraged by this outrageous turn of events, we all have to stfu and accept it.

Who's told you to stfu, Ophelia? I can't see that anywhere on here.

She didn't say anyone had told her to STFU, now, did she? But that is essentially what we are expected to do.

There are always one or two rape-myth-propounders at the very least, but we still do We Believe You.....

A webchat sounds good.

I actually feel quite sick at the thought of Nicola Adams having to fight a bloke.

Absolutely. Why the fuck should the female athlete Nicola Adams have to choose between a possibly life-ruining battering or a career-destroying personal boycott?

That's awful about fallon fox and is such a good example of why this is a terrible idea. What message does this out out?
Also good point about men with low testosterone not needing to change anything but say "I'm a woman to compete"

Thank you MNHQ

I am with the consensus on this one but understand why those who think differently aren't posting. They would immediately get 20+ responses that, whilst polite, would probably be robust!

This will not apply to Rio 2016, FWIW, which is why there is still time to feedback to the IOC.