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#SexIs - Equality in Competition: Should We End “Male” and “Female” Categories in Sports?

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Contributor: Ansley Ansley


Equality in Competition: Should We End “Male” and “Female” Categories in Sports?, by Roland Hulme! - Click here to read Roland's opinion of co-ed competitions and how it translates to the business world and other arenas of life.



"If women want equality with men, they’ve got to start by competing in the same competitions – and while that begins with sports and athletics, I think those “competitions” ultimately extend to the boardroom, the ballot box and beyond."

Take a deep breath and let's think about this on a fundamental level. Is what Roland saying really that far from the truth? Let's discuss it in the comments! What do you feel really separates men and women and why is true equality so ellusive? Is there any truth to the adage "equal, but different"?
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
Should sports competitions allow for co-ed teams?
Yes, for some. But maybe not for all.
Augustxsins , Ivy Wilde , Rawr4483 , ToyGeek , Sammi , sodapin , Martiniman , edeneve , SneakersAndPearls , goofballmaster , sexytileena / absolutely love sex
11
Yes, for all of them. If women want to play beside men, they should be able to.
LostinLife , Badass , Chelle Love , geekkink
4
Yes, for professional sports but not for the Olympics.
No, I don't think they should be co-ed at all.
Mwar , Kindred , Taylor , Beck , leanright69 , Gracie , Gunsmoke , Sodom and Gomorrah , tortilla , Girly Juice , wetone123 , married with children , SoloJoe , SilverIsis
14
Other.
unfulfilled , Petite Valentine , SubmissiveFeminist
3
.
Does the glass ceiling really exist?
Definitely! I see it all the time.
Mwar , Augustxsins , Beck , Ivy Wilde , ToyGeek , Chelle Love , sodapin , Gracie , damnbul12 , Girly Juice , SubmissiveFeminist , geekkink
12
Limitations on one's success are imposed on themselves, not their gender.
Gunsmoke , wetone123
2
It's more complicated than that, I'll explain in comments...
Petite Valentine , Taylor , Martiniman , edeneve , SilverIsis
5
..
Do you think success is dependent on your gender?
Yes, I do and I am a male.
geekkink
1
Yes, I do and I am a female.
Mwar , Girly Juice
2
Yes, I do and I identify as something other than male or female.
I just can't even begin to tell you how much it doesn't depend on your gender.
leanright69 , Gunsmoke
2
Other...
Petite Valentine , Augustxsins , Taylor , Beck , LostinLife , Ivy Wilde , Rawr4483 , ToyGeek , Chelle Love , sodapin , Martiniman , edeneve , SubmissiveFeminist , wetone123 , SneakersAndPearls , SilverIsis
16
Total votes: 72 (33 voters)
Poll is closed
08/09/2012
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Contributor: Mwar Mwar
I guess since I'm a biologist, I can't agree on co-ed sports in most forms. Men on average have at least 20% more muscle mass sheerly from having extra testosterone. Their hormone balance allows for a smaller fat percentage than women. They also have larger lungs on average as well as more blood in their system. From this science alone, (and there's lots more) it's not really fair to have men and women to compete on the same level.
08/09/2012
Contributor: unfulfilled unfulfilled
I believe in equality for all, but men and women are made differently.
08/09/2012
Contributor: Augustxsins Augustxsins
Quote:
Originally posted by Mwar
I guess since I'm a biologist, I can't agree on co-ed sports in most forms. Men on average have at least 20% more muscle mass sheerly from having extra testosterone. Their hormone balance allows for a smaller fat percentage than women. They ... more
Yup, this^
08/09/2012
Contributor: Ivy Wilde Ivy Wilde
Some sports are already co-ed even at the Olympic level. In all the equestrian sports that I know of there is no separation between male and female, even in contemporary competitive jousting. And there have been quite a few women winning in international jousting competitions.
08/09/2012
Contributor: Ivy Wilde Ivy Wilde
However, I agree with Mwar. Men and women are built differently and that should be taken into account in most sports.
08/09/2012
Contributor: Taylor Taylor
Perhaps equestrian, archery, and shooting could be co-ed (I don't know enough about the skills involved) but I think most sports should be separated. I know when I competed in fencing, I would often win or or get one of the top spots pretty easily in women's tournaments, but with co-ed tournaments I never did very well. If I was only allowed to compete in co-ed tournaments it probably would have felt discouraging to me since i would never have done very well.
08/09/2012
Contributor: Badass Badass
Maybe small women shouldn't play football with dudes, but like track, heck yes. I don't know... there is so much gray area with that..
08/09/2012
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
In sports that are not strongly decided by muscle mass and other biological factors, they should compete against each other. But they already do -- in equestrian events, for example.
08/09/2012
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
I think archery and shooting could be co-ed, but I don't think it makes sense for the other sports.
08/09/2012
Contributor: Chelle Love Chelle Love
The world in the battle of the sexes has come to a stand still... In my eyes we are tied in almost all areas... If a woman wants to play hardcore football, basketball, soccer, or anything else in the matter, alongside of a man then she should have the full right to do so, as long as she can prove that she can be just as tough as the next guy...
08/09/2012
Contributor: sodapin sodapin
Quote:
Originally posted by Mwar
I guess since I'm a biologist, I can't agree on co-ed sports in most forms. Men on average have at least 20% more muscle mass sheerly from having extra testosterone. Their hormone balance allows for a smaller fat percentage than women. They ... more
Agreed, though many sports require other skills (like those listed by other people) and sometimes it's women that have the advantage over men (flexibility for example)! Therefore, sports where there isn't really a "biological advantage" should totally be co-ed why not?

I think another problem lies on how we define "male" and "female". Some people are both, neither, etc. and this causes unnecessary discomfort for some individuals who want to compete. From this, I feel like if you're good enough to compete, then by all means compete :O.

P.S.: Did anyone see 16 year old female swimmer Ye Shiwen swim faster (during portions of the race) than Ryan Lochte? Kick ass!
08/10/2012
Contributor: edeneve edeneve
co-ed teams: depends how individuals define equal


gender & success ARE PART of success as a direct result of gender in our society despite the in-roads women have made - we still live in a patriarchal society, unfortunately
08/10/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
I see the point about the equestrian events, but let's face it - the horse is the star there, not the rider.
08/10/2012
Contributor: Incendiaire Incendiaire
Quote:
Originally posted by Sammi
I think archery and shooting could be co-ed, but I don't think it makes sense for the other sports.
I agree with this.

Just because men can out perform women in most physical pursuits doesn't make women's achievements in their own category any less notable. A cheetah could easily out-run Usain Bolt, but everyone is still impressed when he wins the gold medal.
08/10/2012
Contributor: caseyb caseyb
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley


Equality in Competition: Should We End “Male” and “Female” Categories in Sports?, by Roland Hulme! - Click here to read Roland's opinion of co-ed competitions and how it translates to the business world and other arenas of ... more
Equal but different, Whole heartedly agree.
08/10/2012
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
Quote:
Originally posted by Mwar
I guess since I'm a biologist, I can't agree on co-ed sports in most forms. Men on average have at least 20% more muscle mass sheerly from having extra testosterone. Their hormone balance allows for a smaller fat percentage than women. They ... more
Thank you - reality just doesn't support 'politically correct' fantasies.

My son just completed basic training in the military - and I can say without doubt that the physical standards for men and women are not equal - why is that? Is a weak male less valuable than a weak woman?

More than 60% of college graduates are women - why is that we don't see programs to help boys & men get into and stay in college?

I still programs designed to increase women's presence in science and math. Why of the 60% of graduates - why don't more of them CHOOSE science and math?

It fully acceptable to discriminate against white men and boys - which puzzles me. Do mothers not love their sons as much as their daughters?
08/11/2012
Contributor: damnbul12 damnbul12
Definitely! I see it all the time.
08/11/2012
Contributor: SubmissiveFeminist SubmissiveFeminist
I think success is not ONLY dependent on your gender, but it does play a role.
08/11/2012
Contributor: married with children married with children
I know a lot of p[people have a hard time believing this, but there is a difference between men and women. And that's not a bad thing.
08/12/2012
Contributor: SoloJoe SoloJoe
no i dont think they should
08/12/2012
Contributor: geekkink geekkink
Quote:
Originally posted by Mwar
I guess since I'm a biologist, I can't agree on co-ed sports in most forms. Men on average have at least 20% more muscle mass sheerly from having extra testosterone. Their hormone balance allows for a smaller fat percentage than women. They ... more
Yes but women have stronger legs. I've actually watched women be better kickers in football. So it's hard to say they should not be given the chance to try at, at least that. They also make really good pitchers. Throwing a softball at a hundred plus miles per hour is way harder than doing it with a hard ball, that is a physics thing.
08/16/2012
Contributor: geekkink geekkink
Quote:
Originally posted by Sammi
I think archery and shooting could be co-ed, but I don't think it makes sense for the other sports.
Women out shoot men in the Olympics, and they are given worse rifles. I would actually be unfair for the men on this one. With the same argument about women being smaller, equestrian sports come down to weight, so if your saying men are heavier than a woman would have the advantage in equestrian sports, and racing as well.Cars that is.
08/16/2012