Spectator N0. 2679 : Choc-A-Block By Doc
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Do We Need To Protect Women's Sport From Men Claiming To Be Women?
I fervently believe we do - as does Martina Navratilova, Sharon Davies, Gabby Logan and, if she's to be believed, many other sportswomen.
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Rachel McKinnon, who won a women's cycling event, is a 6 foot burly bloke who still has a penis, but because he 'identifies' as female is allowed to compete against proper women. How have we managed to get to this farcical situation that blokes masquerading as women can cheat, and we're meant to accept it?
I genuinely find it utterly bonkers, and I feel sorry for the women who train as hard as they can to become as good as they can in their chosen sport, only for a bloke like McKinnon come and steal their opportunity.
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Rachel McKinnon, who won a women's cycling event, is a 6 foot burly bloke who still has a penis, but because he 'identifies' as female is allowed to compete against proper women. How have we managed to get to this farcical situation that blokes masquerading as women can cheat, and we're meant to accept it?
I genuinely find it utterly bonkers, and I feel sorry for the women who train as hard as they can to become as good as they can in their chosen sport, only for a bloke like McKinnon come and steal their opportunity.
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I think we can discuss this issue rationally without the use of transphobic (yes, that's what it is - please try to keep up) language, DeskDiary.
The division of sport into two categories - Men's and Women's - derives from a traditional and simplistic classification based exclusively on biology. And by that crude standard biological "women" do, indeed, need to be protected from unfair competition by biological "men".
But a more subtle consideration of the issue might suggest that biology alone is not the single determinant. There are, for example, societal and psychological factors at work amongst others. Allowing for all of those, then, the biological woman does not need, nor ought to demand, protection from a competitor who is just as much a woman, but has had the accidental misfortune to be born with some features of the male physique. But to complain about "unfa" advantage in this case would be just as irrational as a shorter basket-ball player shouting "foul!" because another basket-ball player is two inches taller.
PS: I understand, of course, why sportswomen of an older generation like Martina and Sharon find it a little difficult to come to terms with the modern view. But I do believe Ms Navratilova has apologised for her ill-considered outburst, hasn't she?
The division of sport into two categories - Men's and Women's - derives from a traditional and simplistic classification based exclusively on biology. And by that crude standard biological "women" do, indeed, need to be protected from unfair competition by biological "men".
But a more subtle consideration of the issue might suggest that biology alone is not the single determinant. There are, for example, societal and psychological factors at work amongst others. Allowing for all of those, then, the biological woman does not need, nor ought to demand, protection from a competitor who is just as much a woman, but has had the accidental misfortune to be born with some features of the male physique. But to complain about "unfa" advantage in this case would be just as irrational as a shorter basket-ball player shouting "foul!" because another basket-ball player is two inches taller.
PS: I understand, of course, why sportswomen of an older generation like Martina and Sharon find it a little difficult to come to terms with the modern view. But I do believe Ms Navratilova has apologised for her ill-considered outburst, hasn't she?
" Men's and Women's - derives from a traditional and simplistic classification based exclusively on biology..." Precisely, there are two sexes, male and female and nothing in between. The word 'gender' belongs to a grammatical discussion involving nouns in certain languages. It is quite ridiculous to assume that how many cut and pastes you subject your body to is going to alter your sex.
When it comes to competitive sport those at the top, or even mid range, are really at the top of or nearing the top of their game and has less to do with ‘the general population can’.
On a general level men are stronger and faster than women. That is a biological fact. And stems in no small part to our hunter gatherer ancestors.
If in the future we, through Darwinian selection, change the very makeup of the world population things might change. As it is we are stuck with our genes and men are stronger and quicker.
Gender politics is the in thing and self identity is being used as a stick to beat people with.
On a general level men are stronger and faster than women. That is a biological fact. And stems in no small part to our hunter gatherer ancestors.
If in the future we, through Darwinian selection, change the very makeup of the world population things might change. As it is we are stuck with our genes and men are stronger and quicker.
Gender politics is the in thing and self identity is being used as a stick to beat people with.
Nothing new similar has been happening for years.
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Talbot, the sports bodies can sort it. If they do it in a way that dissatisfies the public, the public will go away, young wannabes will do the same, and the sports will die. It's nothing "we" need to wring our hands about, there are governing bodies in office to do just this sort of thing. Write them a stern letter to make your opinion clear, if you wish.
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