Female boxer withdraws from fight with transwoman

[ArthurbellaScott]

https://reduxx.info/canada-female-boxer-withdraws-from-competition-after-being-matched-against-male-fighter/

'The Quebec Boxing Federation was reportedly aware of Walmsley’s biological sex, but justified the fight by stating they had chosen an appropriate referee for the match. Ultimately, Bissonnette says her decision to withdraw came down to safety.'

'Following Bissonnette’s withdrawal, Walmsley issued a statement to the press accusing her of “outing” him and warning that similar actions would have a negative impact on female athletes.'

There must be a notable difference in the speed of a fast ball bowled by a man vs a woman? I mean, I would assume that the top women fast bowlers have pretty impressive speeds, higher than the average man possibly, but nowhere near a male fast bowler at the top of their game?

Similarly, at the bat, surely it's just a no brainer that a top batsman will be able to bat harder and further than a top batswoman?

It's mind blowing to me that these physical differences are not just instinctively understood.

Having said that, I have a friend who is very much of the type of feminism that says, "girls must just be as rough as the boys". I love her, but she honestly couldn't understand why I wanted DD to play football in a girls team at school and not a mixed team.

'Btw I thought “mums” would have more love and understating, but I notice more hatred.'

If one group of people are going to be aware of the true biological differences between males and females compared to any other group, I would suggest that a group of people who have given birth - which only females can do - are going to be that group.

Well, to compound your thoughts here, women’s cricket has a lighter bat, ball and shorter boundaries.

So, it is not even directly comparable on even footing. Hence why Blythin broke women’s cricket records while still playing cricket in the male team as well, it was clear it was an utter farce and cricket regulators allowed it. Clare Balding celebrated it, iirc.

A male cricketer using a lighter bat, hitting a slower paced ball into boundaries that were shorter as well. Yippee! now that is celebration worthy! How proud.

@Helleofabore I didn't know that about the bat, ball or boundaries. But yes, that just compounds what seems instinctive to me.

It's insane.

The only plus side, is I think sport is where a lot of "normal" people get peaked. My theory is that it's because most of us think that trans people (let's be honest here, trans women) are the ones we've seen occasionally in movies and tv - you know, could absolutely pass, have spent years seeking mental health support, suffered shame and fear, wanted (and possibly received) surgery etc... So all the "TERFS" are just really mean. Then they see the prevalence of what's happening in sport and suddenly they go, "WTAF????" and bang, they're peaked.

<silver lining> <sigh>

@Helleofabore also, I think DS is at the age where the sex differences start to become a real problem but it's interesting how many people are in denial. There's a girl in his basketball team. Traditionally, she's been one of the team's strongest players. She's fast, smart, accurate etc. Top scorer, good at defence and so on.

This season, she's barely scored. Why? Because as athletic and fit as she is, the boys have just got that much stronger. It takes almost nothing for them to cause her to miss her shots. But a lot of the other parents refuse to see this. It's weird.

I believe she'll shortly be moving to a girls only team where, I am sure, she will excel again.

And it's not just the physical differences.

The fact that female people have the bodies that give birth means that we are the ones who uniquely have to cope with:

a menstrual cycle while training
hormonal contraception to avoid inconveniently timed pregnancy
a long absence from sport if pregnant
a longer absence if the chief caregiver for the baby
possible career-ending birth injuries

And on top of all that:
Sexist blokes
Fewer opportunities
Lower prizes
A culture that discourages girls from sport
Bloody evil sports bras
And now, more sexist blokes actually grabbing the opportunities set aside to try to compensate for some of that.

Grrr.

I hear you sav.

The stream of supposed feminism that states that women are equal in every way is delusional. I have seen MRA types on Mumsnet though that have tried the 'this is what you all wanted suck it up' in their complete misunderstanding of equality discussions as well.

And there is also enough evidence building that even at 6 years old the average boy has advantages over the average girl. There will always be exceptional girls that will stand out, such as the girl in your son's team, but they are exceptional girls. However, on Mumsnet there are even posters who will ignore that these are exceptional girls and declare that boys do not have any physical advantage and that the studies are nonsense.

There's that, but also I think it's easier for a lot of people to talk about men being stronger than women than it is about the risk males pose to females as a class. Anyone with even the remotest NAMALT leanings is liable to do much better with the sports than the Schrodingers rapist point, for example. As is anyone who just buries their head in the sand.

My point was more that finding evidence that sex matters in sport is that easy that you can go with the first result in google scholar. You don’t even need any actual skills to find papers that demonstrate that our little TRA is shouting loudly but doesn’t know what s/he is talking about.

The first line in the abstract of the first paper that comes up in google
scholar is “Males enjoy physical performance advantages over females within competitive sport.”

Which makes the person shouting ‘you evil transphobes: there’s no evidence that being male is an advantage in sport’ look extremely silly.

You thought mums would have more love and understanding?

Yes hon.

This mum is lovingly and understandingly saying that women must NOT be battered by men in the name of indulging very unreasonable identities.

Did you think I'd be all "awww bless, you go and smash her skull if you want to sweetheart" to a man?

Seriously?

That's what you think Mums are all about?

As a mum, I'm also wondering what this man is thinking. What is in this for him? Why is the risk to women nothing to him compared to his need to go in the ring as a woman, and to fight a woman? I have to wonder if there's some kind of buzz for him in trying to make people validate and pretend for him even when it means sacrificing women to him to hurt. To prove how very much more he matters than women do.

Actual motherly love involves boundaries, saying no, weathering the tantrums and caring about the long term. Love is tough, it isn't all mushy and sentimental and indulgent. Or enabling. And frankly I'd raise a son of mine to be less harmfully selfish than this, with a capacity to see women as people, not things for his use.

Ah, I think you may have overplayed your hand there Paola. Feeling a bit sore?

Knock it off, Mary. That's not what most people are saying at all

Someone hunting screenshots here I see.

Yes, a wee bit transparent there, Mary.

Don't forget you mustn't eat anything after midnight.

PBP, eh? Gosh, I'm surprised. Is everyone else surprised?

Truly.

I've had to dim the lights and lie down with a small vase of pineapple gin.