Should transgender women be allowed to play women's sports?

[andyoldlabour]

Well, obviously we have pretty much one set of views on that, but this video from the US shows both sets of views, and intelligence wise I know which side I am supporting.

Why should they?

No.

No. And so depressing that we are actually having this conversation.

Shockingly unfair.

Without watching the video, no.

I have blue hair, if that's relevant.

Not watched the video but I don’t think they should. You can adjust certain aspects of maleness to enable men to redefine themselves as women, but I doubt you could wipe out everything nature gives them that makes them physiologically stronger than women, and thus level the playing field.

For example, whenever I’ve heard a transgender woman on the radio, I’ve thought it’s been a man talking.

No. We are different. Trans women were men, and still are according to their anatomy. That makes them far stronger giving them a huge and unfair advantage against all the women who have worked their backsides off to become the athletes they are today.
If they don’t want to compete as men, then fine, but don’t disadvantage the women just for the rights of a few. I find it completely wrong.

Let me think about it......looking at all the angles......considering different vantage points.....taking into account a range of emotions.....

No.

Look - DS is 15 and could whoop my arse (not that I’d admit that to him).

He does martial arts and occasionally me play-spar - I can only ‘win’ because my discipline is better in some ways. If it came down to strength or speed there is now way I could have ever have got the better of him (even at my peak fitness).

Boys are just stronger on average - his muscles are different. He has more aggression (not the right word as he is a laid back pussy cat). His lung capacity is impressive.

Sorry but a blue wig doesn’t do a Samson.

Definitely not. Not under any circumstances.

No. It’s crazy.

Possibly, if testosterone levels are lowered sufficiently. I think this is something that is being looked at currently for IAAF - I believe trans women athletes have to meet strict testosterone levels for 12 months prior to completing for IAAF, now half the levels of what was previously allowed.

However, this just seems to be for some events, not all events and I don't know why that is. I'm also not entirely sure that these measures entirely make up for physical advantages of previously having had a male body, musculature etc. So I am on the fence.

Women aren't men with low testosterone.

Again: what's in this for women? I see what's in it for men.

No, of course not. It will be the end of women's sport.

Women are fully fledged human beings with a set of characteristics which place them in the same category with one another. Characteristics, incidentally, that no man, however he identifies, can ever have.

'This Girl Can' inspires women and young girls to play sport to the best of their ability. To compete and succeed.

These girls will never be inspired to become artificially weakened men, ffs.

They can play women's sports - just NOT at the same time and in the same teams as women.

As someone upthread said, why is it fair that men get to choose whether they play single sex sports or mixed sports and women don't? Why do children have to be separated on rugby pitches from the age of 13 but it's ok for women to play against biological men? Is it going to take the death of a woman before this is taken seriously?

(I haven't watched the video!)

No of course not. And reducing testosterone to 'acceptable' levels misses the point entirely. They will have gone through puberty, and that gives them an enormous advantage over women. I'm so angry that people born male are forcing their way into women's sport. There'll be nothing fucking left for us soon.

No.

They will insist on sharing the same changing rooms and toilets. Anyone with tackle shouldn't be in women's areas, in my view.

And if the sports require strength (putting the shot, rowing and so on) and are competitive, they will have a natural advantage - which is unfair to other competitors.

No, absolutely not.

No, absolutely not. Transwomen are still male, with the benefit of a male shaped pelvis, lower body fat %, higher bone density longer stride and reach (on average), higher haemoglobin levels, larger lung capacity, and other secondary sex characteristics which means they are more capable and efficient at most athletic pursuits.
I'm not watching your link, because there is no other side of the argument, as far as I'm concerned. It's just as much cheating as it would be if an adult ran in a children's race.

why do you all care so much may I ask?

Transwomen are still male, with the benefit of a male shaped pelvis, lower body fat %, higher bone density longer stride and reach (on average), higher haemoglobin levels, larger lung capacity, and other secondary sex characteristics which means they are more capable and efficient at most athletic pursuits

^ Please see above those who still^ think it's just the level of testosterone that is the issue. It's not.

And it's another 'no' from me.

They already do, don't they? It's been allowed here for 15 years, I think. (I haven't watched the video)

Why care? Because it’s not fair.

Why not have able-bodied athletes competing in paralympics? Heavyweights on the lightweights categories? Professionals against amateurs? Man against cat?

why do you all care so much may I ask?

Because women had to fight for their own competitions and now they are being taken away by the back door.

Here is Victoria Hood talking about how she had to organise her own women’s cycling road races, not in the dim and distant past but just 5 years ago:

fairplayforwomen.com/victoria_hood/