Gaggers:Dividing sports into leagues for men and for women is discrimination?

[WaleedHassanien]

I was in the club today, and I just had an amazing time playing basket ball, we were group of guys and girls ...some of us even had minor disabilities...the game was amazing...that made me think...why do we have league for men only and another for women only?...just think about it...hmm...and I believe that if there will be harassment, then why not put rules for it instead of separating each gender?!

I mean wouldn't be better for a person with a disabilities as long as he\she is able to attend the required physical level of a specific sport to have the right to join a regular team?

Notice the recent advancement of human augmentation...

Anyway what do you think?

Updates

+1 y

OK


1. for those who say "sexual harassment" I remind them of bi and gay people :-)


2. for those who argue about physical capabilities, I remind them that it is related to natural factors which can be worked out and get developed, plus it is not related to specific gender!


3. finally for those who argue about sports which requires physical contact, I remind them that their are many other sports that requires high level of focus and no physical contact at all.

Updates

+1 y

Many thanks to all of you for sharing such interesting thoughts :-)

[lifes_curve_ball]

No, I don't feel it's discrimination. At a recreational level you have no need to really split them up because the level of play just isn't that intense. When you start talking about the more intense levels of play though I believe you must split them up. Think about it, if you were to put women and men at the highest level in the same league in basketball to take your example, there's a huge physical gap that will not only ruin the quality of the game but pose a risk to the women as well. Fact is that there are physical differences and sure you can say oh if we tweak the workouts or something but when you take into account the pure size difference and the explosiveness as well as the power of those in the NBA then no matter what tweaking you do it wouldn't matter. Same goes with other sports such as football, after all no matter what tweaking you're doing would it really make a difference if you have someone like JPP hitting you at full force like he would other players.

I know that when I play just a recreational relaxed game I'm cool if there are women on the court playing with us, but if I'm playing a full out competitive game then the fact that I may hurt her makes me slow down a step or alter what I'm doing. If a guy's guarding me I have no problems with going in full speed and trying to draw a foul even if it's a hard foul, if it's a girl there then I can't do that because I feel me going full speed into her would hurt her. Likewise when I'm playing football, I have no issues with putting a hard hit on a guy but I wouldn't be able to bring myself to doing that to a girl out of fear of hurting her.

I'm not going to say harassment because I feel that sports should be beyond that and be just about the competition and going for the win (although unfortunately that's not always the case).

In sports without contact I would still apply the same ideas, what level of competition is it at? The fact remains that there comes a point where the physical differences will just alter the game completely especially when you're talking about the elite level of play. At a lower level I'm OK with it, recreational play? Elementary school? Sure. But as we get into high school, college, or pros then no way. Same applies with competitive pick up games because they can get intense, fun but intense to the point there are hard fouls to make the other person think twice before trying the same thing again.

[Shyscot]

Depends on whether it is competitive or for fun. Biology makes it unfair on women to compete with men, so not separating would exclude women, which is unfair.

I do think that there should be more mixing at a recreational level, though. When doing anything for fun it's better to include as many people as possible regardless of gender, ability, etc. I'm crap at some sports but people still let me join in!

The only thing that sometimes bothers me is the safety side, which you need to be careful with. I train with a few women in karate and I'm constantly worried about mistakes and have to be very careful when partnered with them. I'd never forgive myself if I made a mistake and hurt one of them.

[crookthings]

Technically, yes. I don't believe it's a huuuge issue but it does perpetuate the myth that women and men can't possibly perform at the same level at most sports. Even some feminists say that segregated teams are good because it achieves fairness. I have to disagree. With as much as we know about the importance of training and practice, we seem to be stuck believing that the differences we see are innate and magically not influenced by separation and self-fulfilling prophesies.

Just a side point: White people tend to dominate swimming, but we don't hear people clamoring for us to go back to teams segregated by race.

[RedSmartie]

Women are typically weaker than men. While it is true that many women are stronger and more athletic than many men, professional athletes are in top physical condition. Top physical condition is much stronger and much more athletic for men than it is for women in most sports. By making professional sports coed, you are eliminating women's sports altogether because women would simply not be drafted into professional teams because men are much more physically adept at most sports.

It's not sexist at all to segregate pro sports. It's common sense based on biology.

[front2back]

I'm a wrestler, and this tends to be a common problem. In the Olympics, there is male and female wrestling leagues with different weight classes. (because there aren't many 200+lb women). However in high school girls and its wrestle coed. It is fine since most girls are <140lbs so the guys aren't that much bigger than them. But girls in wrestling get injured VERY easy and let's be honest, not a lot of girls can handle getting hit across the jaw very well. Also there is the issue for the guys. Most are: "should I go easy on her?" And "where do I grab her?" Among other things. Also, while most guys don't mind wrestling girls, some guys might take advantage of the situation and grope. Basically, men and womens sports can be merged but separate leagues are better.

[WaleedHassanien]

about the "groping" again I remind you that it is same situation if one of them is gay or bi...

[RedThread]

I believe the recent olympics had mixed doubles Tennis and mixed doubles Badminton. I think this is viable in certain sports but others like basketball where the far majority of the men are way taller than the tallest women it is unfair at least at the professional level. I've played casual games with both men and women too and it is more fair and even.

I am one who is all for empowering women too. As I've said I think it is viable in many sports but in others where women aren't close to men in times or physical height I don't think it's as fair.

[WaleedHassanien]

fair enough

[Racez]

It's not because of discrimination.

It's because of physical capabilities, and to avoid sexual advances.

Let's take your idea of men and women playing together in one game.

The men can just "casually" touch the women's breasts, butt, or legs.

It takes away the competitiveness of the game.

[WaleedHassanien]

Just to humor you...suppose your argument is valid, what about single player sports?!

Racing, table tennis, tennis, swimming, running?!

[WaleedHassanien]

Also you forgot that there are bi and gay people!

Don't they play in the same league even though they have sexual interests in the same gender they are from?!

[Racez]

You have a very competitive valid point.

Now, here's a good idea.

Go to all the sport associations, and file your complaint.

[harveykinkle]

Regardless, I don't want to be body checked by a giant man!

[BlueSJ]

I don't think women can compete men in a running race.

Even if we suppose they have the same weight,

generally men are taller which makes their step

even longer, is what I think. :S

[crookthings]

@BlueSJ:

"Tall people naturally have longer strides, but stride length, it turns out, does not determine speed. Running requires that you lift your body off the ground with each step, propelling yourself forward. The more you weigh, the harder you have to work to lift your body and the slower you will be.

The best runners are small and light, with slim legs. 'If you have large legs, you have to move a big load,” Dr. Secher said. “The smaller you are, the better you are.'"

[BlueSJ]

@crookthings Yeah I know, that's why I said " suppose they have the same weight"

So here we have the stride length advantage.

[DanTX]

Yeah, men may be taller, but it seems that women tend to have longer legs in proportion to their bodies.

[SilentEarth]

I'd rather them be separate because men and women are built differently (It's simply nature). On a competitive level, it should be divided by sex unless the league is missing for women. Like if there isn't a women's basketball team, they should let them join the men's basketball team. As far as disabilities go, it should depend on the disability itself because of how varied they are. If it conflicts with being able to actually play the game and function on a competitive level they probably wouldn't be able to make the team anyways.

[Deft_maiden]

Historically they have seen divided because sporting activities where for men only. Women were not even allowed to attend. As women gained more rights their own leagues where formed. Behind those decisions where sexuality, and physical strengths factors.

I tend to agree that in most sports they should be kept separate. I mean can you imagine a coed wrestling match? :O

As for the Recreational Leagues that a while different ball of wax. I don't them being coed. It their call.

[Vendrix]

Actually, Wrestling and American Football are both technically not segregated sports. When I was in Middle school and High school I saw a girl once in both sports and even had one on my team in football. She didn't stay past freshman year but it does happen occasionally. Again this is the odd case. Just letting it be known. :D

[helloyes]

no physical contact = not a real sport. real sports require explosiveness, power, endurance. Guys have more of this due to testesterone. Imagine girls playing basketball with guys who aren't unathletic as the guys you played with. they ll blow by you, post you up, out jump you. you will get injured. how exactly is a girl going to post up a guy? its basically grinding on him.

[Fiona83]

I think it's just logical that there are women leagues. But I also believe that if a woman can qualify for a male league, she should be allowed to join it.

[tadpole25]

IMO,

Women should have their own league but also should be able to compete with men in a unisex league.

[moaterboat]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Women want equality except for when it doesn't benefit them.

[Anonymous]

men and women are build different, that is not sexist its nature.