I’m a casual runner, and joined 4 races this last autumn. My best placement in my age group was in a December race. I came in 2nd among the old guys, so “YAY ME.” I credit my success on the fact that there were not many entries in a December race in Minnesota. I placed much lower on the other races which were run in better weather, from 17th to 9th. I’ll accept my 2nd place pin, however, because I showed up when the faster old guys didn’t.
I could have placed first in my age group, though, since the categories are also split by sex (even though they call it gender.) If I had the audacity to race as a woman, I would have come in 2nd in that race, but only lost by 1 minute rather than 9 as I had in the male category. The message is that men have an athletic advantage over women, even in the older race category. I have no interest in racing a woman just for a better placement, I have this old-fashioned value that striving for excellence precludes taking the opportunity to cheat. Even if the cheating is sanctioned by the sport, it’s cheating.
There are organizations that consider giving men the opportunity to level down into women’s categories to be a step towards “fairness,” for trans ID males. They care less for how this affects women, and tie themselves in knots trying to find a way to pretend that by transing themselves men place themselves on a true footing with women. They mumble something-something about how hormonal changes reduce the advantage that men develop during adolescence. It’s all a lie.
Women had to fight for their own sports. I’m old, but not that old. I do remember when boys’ school sports were interscholastic, but girls’ sports intramural. Girls’ choices were limited to volleyball, track and field, or cheerleading in our high school, while the boys could choose from basketball, hockey, football, and track and field. It was a small school. Girls needed Title IX to ensure that sports opportunities for them were funded by their schools, and while it may seem that there have been sports for girls for a long time, it’s really only recently that women’s hockey, basketball, and other sports have been funded in high schools and colleges to a level that allowed them to be competitive.
While there have been exceptional women athletes who have played men’s sports at the professional level, there have been very few. Annika Sorentam and Babe Didrikson Zaharias in the PGA (golf,) Nancy Lieberman tried out as an NBA player, Toni Stone played in the Negro Leagues and is the only major leaguer I am aware of, and Ila Borders played in the minor leagues for the St. Paul Saints. Exceptional women nearly make it into the men’s categories, but do not become champions. And they are examples of athletes whose desire is to compete against the highest level possible in their sport.
That’s what we are taught about sports, that’s a value, to excel against the most difficult competitors.
That’s not what the trans ID males are seeking. They are claiming a right to compete in a level that is demonstrably less demanding than the one they are placed in due to their sex, and they do so knowing they have a much better chance at glory. I consider it to be stolen valor, and they seem to have no shame in accepting medals that they more easily come into than the women who have been training hard for them. Losing is hard enough, but to see your award simply handed to a man because he whined about his “right” to compete at a lower level, well, that’s just heartbreaking.
Ripx4nutmeg has compiled a thread of news stories of examples of men who cheated their way to medals and money by declaring themslves to be trans women. The thread explains where they ranked among men compared to their rank among women.
For those not on Twitter, here is an unroll link.
This is not a case of expanding opportunities for an oppressed group. These are all examples of men suppressing the opportunities of women to achieve and excel in the sports they fought hard to open up for themselves. If anything should open eyes and peak people on the trans issue, then this should do so in bright neon. Each one of these “winners” is a loser in my book.
The way that I see it is this: If any man finds himself so distraught over gender that he considers that he must take the hormones that reduce his competitiveness against other men, then that should be one of the deciding factors. It should be considerd a cost of transitioning. If the sports are important enough that he doesn’t want to lose competitiveness, then he should wait until his athletic career is over.
It’s not women’s problem, and they shouldn’t be penalized. Women have the right to compete, you know, as in “Sports is a Human Right.”
Winning isn’t a “right.”
Addendum, 4th January 2023:
The USA Powerlift team has determined that MtF athletes have a superior advantage to women, and are not included in female competition:
USA Powerlifting, as a National Affiliate of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) adopted, and follows the policies as defined by the IPF Medical Committee which impact the participation of transgender individuals in events sanctioned by USA Powerlifting.
Two areas of policy impact such participation:
The first has to do with the use of testosterone or other androgens, commonly used to assist in transition from female to male. By virtue of the anabolic nature of these compounds, they are not allowed, nor is a Therapeutic Use Exemption granted for such use for anyone. This applies to any and all medical conditions which might be treated through use of androgens.
The second area involves the participation of male to female competitors. Through analysis the impact of maturation in the presence naturally occurring androgens as the level necessary for male development, significant advantages are had, including but not limited to increased body and muscle mass, bone density, bone structure, and connective tissue. These advantages are not eliminated by reduction of serum androgens such as testosterone yielding a potential advantage in strength sports such as powerlifting.
I suggest reading the FAQs, as well.