| Subject: I think Women should be allowed to play in Men's teams |
Author:
vish
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Date Posted: 12:21:47 03/11/02 Mon
Here's some food for thought.....
I've read articles on Women leaving sport , women being represented in sport, women being abused in sport and forced to conform to sexist stereotypes, when I was studying sports ethics at university. I've continued to study related coaching issues on team cohesion and motivation. I've been reading articles on coaching in order to improve my performance with the Boys that I coach at my school.
Here is what I think about Women playing in Men's teams.
1. The sexes are only separated in adolescent years. Up to that stage, girls are often bigger then boys. The reason for the separation is that men develop higher muscle percentage and strength, which in some sports can result in an unfair advantage against women. Much of the issue for separation is safety and motivation for women.
2. Many women/girls leave sport because of social pressures to conform, and traditional values on alternative activities. Some return to sport later in life. Most find it difficult to return.
3. Although women are genetically programmed to have a lower muscle percentage than men, some are able to compete against men. Genetically, there are many variations amongst human beings. Hence, a man may well have an extra X chromosome, a female athlete may well be found to have a Y chromosome, and so on. The absence of male genitalia does not necessarily prove someone is female. Nor does the presence of male genetalia mean that a man is better at a sport than a woman.
4. Historically, some top female athletes have been found to be of mixed gender or of a chromosomal variation. Historically, some women have had to pose as men to compete or participate in sport or physical vocations.
5. Modern views are different, in that some women are being allowed to participate in Men's sports. For instance, female Ice Hockey goal keepers, female matadors. Modern views are not so different, in that a woman often goes through hell to get there, in spite of adequate performance. Many modern and competitive sports have mixed categories- touch rugby, for instance. Indoor netball, for instance. These sports have high participation levels.
6. The Olympics are one sporting arena where the pressure to conform to Social stereotypes is very high. Ironic considering that drug abuse for performance can result in males developing female characteristics, and vice versa. The Olympic committee itself has been guilty of some horrendous decisions to prevent women from competing in events, because it perceives them to be a weaker sex. For example, the womens marathon was removed because it was thought to be too strenuous for women to compete. In fact is has even been argued, that women's anatomy is often perfect for sporting performance, and in some cases would suffer less and recover better than men . I wouldn't use the Olympics as a bench mark for sporting administration. It's a commercial success, but often by pandering to society rather than setting the standard.
I've seen figures that say women can make up about 53 percent of sporting participants in this country. I've also seen figures that suggest that the newspaper with the biggest percentage of reporting in Women's sport, only gives 13% of it's coverage to Women. Rugby, racing, and royalty- that's what Wilson and Horton have developed. Any wonder that men are the biggest sports spectators in the country????!!!
Now, you don't have to take my word for these facts. I'm quoting from memory, and some of the issues are controversial, but what really gets up my nose, is the decisions made to develop our sport without even considering some of the points I've listed.
Complain all you want about women competing in a Men's team, but go ahead and PROVE your point. Prove to me, that a woman good enough to compete against men, should be confined to a Women's grade. Isn't she one of the few, who has managed to stay in sport and is actually good enough to warrant the competition? Isn't she someone you should want to encourage? Why should an ATHLETE be held back?
I believe a Women's grade is appropriate because many women are not able to compete against men, and otherwise they wouldn't get to play- BUT IN MOST CITIES IN NEW ZEALAND WOMEN PLAYERS HAVE TO PLAY AGAINST MEN ANYWAY. I would hate to think, that a mens grade that excludes women, is developed "Because we say so". I am amused at the concept that a men's grade is needed to develop men's sport. Are men socially condemned for "being too muscly, being a b*tch, being too emotional" and likely to leave sport because of lack of support for their acitivities? I doubt it. Is there statistical evidence to suggest that the majoroty of men leave sport and lead relatively inactive lives? I doubt it. What I don't doubt, is the arrogance of the decision to change OPEN to MEN's simply because men can't compete in Women's grade. It doesn't seem to be a constructive decision to me. Sounds like people aren' supportive of top female athletes in our sport....
The truth as I see it, is that our canoe polo society in New Zealand is guilty of a lack of respect for female athletes. It extends to decisions that ensure women are constantly contained as a Subcategory of player. Even athletes who have earned selection into a men's team are discriminated against by our National policies- and there are administrators who are proud of those policies.
I've never subscribed to anti-male rhetoric, and I've always agreed that women should support each other. I am certain that there is a level of ignorance that will see my repuation smeared and my level of intelligence questioned for posting this opinion. If you're angry at this posting, I suggest you find the facts and take a deep breath before you dismiss it as rhetoric. It isn't.
I would argue, that there isn't proof that the top grade in New Zealand, and the National League, should be called anything other than OPEN GRADE with women entitled to attempt selection. After all, it's a fairer representation of reality. Most women who play well, play against men. They just don't get the recognition they deserve, for doing it.
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