Intersections of running and feminism
Feb. 1st, 2012 08:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meaghansketchWithout going on and on about how I never post...
There was a discussion on a running forum this week about women-only races. Now, because they can't actually exclude men (I don't know under what circumstances they would be allowed to), they have different policies for men, such as a policy that men who enter can run, but they can't start near the front of the field, or they aren't eligible for prize money if they do win.
Many people (men and women) on the forum were against women-only races because they were 'sexist', 'offensive', or 'degrading'. I think a lot of this is just straight-up manifestation of privilege. Most men have never had the experience of lining up at a starting line, aware that half the competitors around them had a natural chromosomal advantage insurmountable by any amount of training. Several forum posters shorthanded this to women being 'intimidated' by being in a racing environment with men. No. I am not intimidated. I am resigned to the fact that no matter how good I get (and I am pretty darn slow by any definition), no, I will never be able to compete on an even playing field with the top men (or even an equivalently-trained man) in any mixed-sex race.
I won't deny that there are complicated issues with single-sex sports in general. Not everyone, obviously, is at one end or another of the sex or gender spectrum. I believe that everyone should have a chance to compete in any sport they want to, and I recognize that people who are trans or gender-queer could have a tougher time in a race that strictly separates people by sex. I don't know the answers to these questions; I think that in general, the question of integration of people who are trans or gender-queer is not one that is adequately addressed.
I am not in any position to begin answering these questions, though I always start with the position that people who consider themselves women should be able to compete as women, and that people who consider themselves men should be able to compete as men. I have to admit to having done absolutely no research on gender-queer people in sports, and that I really have no starting point to discuss that, so that is something I'll have to work on if I'm going to continue to discuss these issues. It is probably unnecessary to say that discussion on this running forum did not get so far as to consider these questions, since people had more important points to make, like 'women cheering for each other is annoying'. (blargh).
Despite these issues, I do think that once a year, an opportunity to race and know that, on the sex spectrum, at least, I am on an even playing field with my competitors is a great thing for me, and I think, for other women.
There was a discussion on a running forum this week about women-only races. Now, because they can't actually exclude men (I don't know under what circumstances they would be allowed to), they have different policies for men, such as a policy that men who enter can run, but they can't start near the front of the field, or they aren't eligible for prize money if they do win.
Many people (men and women) on the forum were against women-only races because they were 'sexist', 'offensive', or 'degrading'. I think a lot of this is just straight-up manifestation of privilege. Most men have never had the experience of lining up at a starting line, aware that half the competitors around them had a natural chromosomal advantage insurmountable by any amount of training. Several forum posters shorthanded this to women being 'intimidated' by being in a racing environment with men. No. I am not intimidated. I am resigned to the fact that no matter how good I get (and I am pretty darn slow by any definition), no, I will never be able to compete on an even playing field with the top men (or even an equivalently-trained man) in any mixed-sex race.
I won't deny that there are complicated issues with single-sex sports in general. Not everyone, obviously, is at one end or another of the sex or gender spectrum. I believe that everyone should have a chance to compete in any sport they want to, and I recognize that people who are trans or gender-queer could have a tougher time in a race that strictly separates people by sex. I don't know the answers to these questions; I think that in general, the question of integration of people who are trans or gender-queer is not one that is adequately addressed.
I am not in any position to begin answering these questions, though I always start with the position that people who consider themselves women should be able to compete as women, and that people who consider themselves men should be able to compete as men. I have to admit to having done absolutely no research on gender-queer people in sports, and that I really have no starting point to discuss that, so that is something I'll have to work on if I'm going to continue to discuss these issues. It is probably unnecessary to say that discussion on this running forum did not get so far as to consider these questions, since people had more important points to make, like 'women cheering for each other is annoying'. (blargh).
Despite these issues, I do think that once a year, an opportunity to race and know that, on the sex spectrum, at least, I am on an even playing field with my competitors is a great thing for me, and I think, for other women.
