The difference between sex and gender in one photo

[OldTurtleNewShell]

I'm sure that the news of the Norwegian women's handball team being fined for wearing shorts instead of the regulation (max 10cm) bikini bottoms has been covered elsewhere, but I've just seen this picture emerge and I think it perfectly encapsulates the differences between sex and gender.
It shows the male team next to the female team in their respective official uniforms.
Presumably, as these are the official teams, these are the top athletes in that field for each team. It's incredibly clear from the photo that the men's team consists of far taller and more muscular individuals than the women's (even though the women are all quite muscular).
There's the obvious sex difference right there.
And then, there's the uniforms. The women are required to wear tiny and revealing outfits (even when they object) that simply aren't applied to the men's team. And there's the gender.
If someone wanted to transfer from the female team to the male one, they'd be unlikely to qualify as they'd likely not be as powerful or tall as the men.
If someone wanted to transfer from the male team to the female one, they'd almost certainly qualify as they'd be more taller or more muscular than any of the female team.
And if the entire male team wanted to transfer to the female one (theoretically of course), then it's likely most of the existing female team would no longer qualify and there'd be no female team members across either team.
There'd just be two male teams, one of which wore bikini bottoms and one that wore shorts.
I really like this photo. I think it encapsulates the issues perfectly.

[ScreamingMeMe]

It's really quite stark isn't it?

[LastSummerHere]

There is just no need for it! They're doing it, I think, because the sexualisation of women is like the air we breathe...it feels weird to them if it isn't happening, even to elite athletes.

[Missy21]

Agree 👏👏

[Mycatismadeofstringcheese]

Can you give us a twirl and tell us about your outfit?

www.dailymotion.com/video/x3cczcm

[AssassinatedBeauty]

Women and girl gymnasts have always been allowed to wear a unitard with long leggings, or long leggings over/under their leotard. What tends to happen though is that national teams don't include long legged unitards in the official kit. The German national team did provide a long legged unitard as the standard kit in a recent competition, which briefly made news stories at the time. It would be good if other teams picked up on this and it became a normal thing.

[Flippanty]

Very astute OP, thank you.

[PaleGreenGhost]

@Ilikeknitting

This is so annoying.

I did suggest to my DH that the ladies team should all grow out their fanny hair until it’s down to their knees, let it flap about in the breeze and I bet the rules change pronto!

Oh my gosh I love this idea! The best protest ever!

And I totally agree, OP. Great observation.

[Morningstar66]

Hi Olympic commitee, we are all transmen competing in the handball but i can't play with the men because that would be discrimination against my sex but oh no i will have to wear the men's uniform otherwise that would be discrimination against my gender identity...

Done

[GCmiddle]

I showed the picture to my 14 year old daughter and her jaw practically hit the floor. She is developing her feminist consciousness and this photo definitely helped to speed up the process.

[ArabellaScott]

100%. OP.