3 ms·

It really amazes me how much this has become an issue and how few people question why or how. The number of trans athletes we're talking about, nationwide, is n

It really amazes me how much this has become an issue and how few people question why or how. The number of trans athletes we're talking about, nationwide, is no higher than in the dozens. The idea that when asked about a presidential election someone would cite trans issues as a priority staggers me. A true testament to the power of conservative media.

amanaplanacanal 2y ago
Another angle on this is: If trans athletes are such a concern, wouldn't giving trans kids gender affirming care resolve this issue? The standard care is puberty blockers starting at about 10, then hormone therapy in their teens, then surgery if they wish after they become adults. It's almost like what they say they are concerned about isn't what they are really concerned about.
conicsl 2y ago
Conservatives leapt upon this as a wedge issue in recent years, but originally the pushback against the imposition of males upon the female category in sports (and female spaces in general) came from feminist activism. At this point it's hundreds of male athletes competing in women's and girls' sport: https://shewon.org/males https://shewon.org/males
- amanaplanacanal 2y ago
  So now we have people inspecting women's genitals to see if they are really female, women being called out because they don't look feminine enough, and all the worst misogynistic instincts on full display. The thing is, the best athletes frequently have genetic privilege that others don't have, whether it be extra long or extra short limbs, being extra tall, having higher than average testosterone levels, etc. There is no level playing field. I don't know what the best answer is, but what we are seeing now is pretty ugly.
  - conicsl 2y ago
    Screening for sex can be done with a cheek swab. It's much, much less invasive than the anti-doping tests that require blood to be extracted and a direct visual on the athlete passing urine. And it only needs to be done once in an athlete's career. In most cases though it's very obvious when a male is in a women's event. For example, no-one is going to mistake this male, who competes in women's cycling, for female: https://i.ibb.co/N6ZBzh4K/F4-Svyxt-XYAAMpc-M.jpg https://i.ibb.co/N6ZBzh4K/F4-Svyxt-XYAAMpc-M.jpg The best athletes often do have some sort of genetic privilege, that is true. But look at the world records of pretty much any sport and compare the most elite male athletes with the most elite female athletes: the difference is massive. Even having advantages in limb length, lung capacity, and so on doesn't overcome the physical advantage of male development.
    - deleted 2y ago
      [deleted]

amanaplanacanal 2y ago

Another angle on this is: If trans athletes are such a concern, wouldn't giving trans kids gender affirming care resolve this issue? The standard care is puberty blockers starting at about 10, then hormone therapy in their teens, then surgery if they wish after they become adults. It's almost like what they say they are concerned about isn't what they are really concerned about.

conicsl 2y ago

Conservatives leapt upon this as a wedge issue in recent years, but originally the pushback against the imposition of males upon the female category in sports (and female spaces in general) came from feminist activism. At this point it's hundreds of male athletes competing in women's and girls' sport: https://shewon.org/males https://shewon.org/males

amanaplanacanal 2y ago
So now we have people inspecting women's genitals to see if they are really female, women being called out because they don't look feminine enough, and all the worst misogynistic instincts on full display. The thing is, the best athletes frequently have genetic privilege that others don't have, whether it be extra long or extra short limbs, being extra tall, having higher than average testosterone levels, etc. There is no level playing field. I don't know what the best answer is, but what we are seeing now is pretty ugly.
- conicsl 2y ago
  Screening for sex can be done with a cheek swab. It's much, much less invasive than the anti-doping tests that require blood to be extracted and a direct visual on the athlete passing urine. And it only needs to be done once in an athlete's career. In most cases though it's very obvious when a male is in a women's event. For example, no-one is going to mistake this male, who competes in women's cycling, for female: https://i.ibb.co/N6ZBzh4K/F4-Svyxt-XYAAMpc-M.jpg https://i.ibb.co/N6ZBzh4K/F4-Svyxt-XYAAMpc-M.jpg The best athletes often do have some sort of genetic privilege, that is true. But look at the world records of pretty much any sport and compare the most elite male athletes with the most elite female athletes: the difference is massive. Even having advantages in limb length, lung capacity, and so on doesn't overcome the physical advantage of male development.
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]