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Todays controversy

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  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I heard a very well argued opinion on the Beeb earlier today which said that anyone who goes thru puberty as a boy will have greater bone density, greater muscle mass and greater connectivity to help them be faster and stronger.  

    Even tho the NZ transgender competitor has undergone a programme of drugs to reduce natural testosterone levels those advantages are still there so I feel really sorry for any female competitor who will be bested in that event.

    Apparently the IOC will review the rules after these games - no consolation for those who just missed out on a medal this time.   Fairer to have a transgender category in such sports.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    I don't have enough physiological knowledge to be able to qualify my opinion on this topic. So I won't offer it, but will go off on a tangent ;) 

    I was a bit confused when the Mixed 400m Relay (Athletics) was announced (by a BBC presenter) as part of the Olympics move towards gender equality :o Men and Women have the same events now so are equal in that respect. Why does making them do an event together make any difference? If anything it highlights that men can run 400m quicker. I'm not sure what that does for equality? In my lifetime (off the top of my head), the women's marathon and triple jump have been added to the Olympic programme. Those were moves towards gender equality. An extra event in an already crowded programme aren't in my opinion.
    East Lancs
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I think it was to increase female participation in Olympic sports @Biglad.   They could have done that just by having more events in which they can compete - tho the programme already seems too busy - but I do think the mixed team relays were good fun.   
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    edited August 2021
    I didn't see it @Obelixx but imagine it was the same as the swimming event, which I enjoyed. It's just I don't want somebody telling me that it has been introduced to achieve equality. I'm failing to understand how. Changing the heptathlon to the decathlon and the 100m hurdles to 110m hurdles would, as far as I'm aware, mean that both men and women can take part in exactly the same events. Those changes could be championed as gender equality.

    I think they're trying the mixed relay because it is new and entertaining and gives more opportunities to win medals. Fair enough. Just don't mis-sell it.

    There are actually quite a few ex-Olympic athletes (women) who are a bit dubious about the new event on the basis that the programme is already crowded enough. Maybe if they extended the athletics by a day or two, they could comfortably cater for a couple of new events and also allow more 'doubling up' where athletes can enter multiple events without fear of compromising their performances.
    East Lancs
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Obelixx said:
    I heard a very well argued opinion on the Beeb earlier today which said that anyone who goes thru puberty as a boy will have greater bone density, greater muscle mass and greater connectivity to help them be faster and stronger.  

    Even tho the NZ transgender competitor has undergone a programme of drugs to reduce natural testosterone levels those advantages are still there so I feel really sorry for any female competitor who will be bested in that event.

    Apparently the IOC will review the rules after these games - no consolation for those who just missed out on a medal this time.   Fairer to have a transgender category in such sports.
    It's confusing because there are transgender people who *won't* have gone through puberty as their 'birth sex', then there will be some who did. There will also be cis women who have a bone density/muscularity which fits within the 'typical male range'. And with levels of natural testosterone that would be disqualifying for a transgender athlete. (As per my link before, several cis female African competitors were disqualified for high T levels this year - they are put under pressure to take the same sort of T-reducing drugs that trans women take, but is that really 'fair' if that's part of their natural physicality?)  
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    Are we going to have a new controversy for today?
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I hope we're all pronouncing it contro versy, and NOT Con traw versy
    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Emphasis on the second syllable of course  :D

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Emphasis on the second syllable of course  :D
    We could REALLY fall out over that, lol
    Devon.
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