Welcome to the first installment of the “Barb Wire,” an opinion published by Barbara Baird, who launched “Women’s Outdoor News” in 2008. We call her Babbs, as well, but in this op-ed series, she will opine about topics associated with women, the outdoors and other items that interest her. She can get prickly, so welcome to the “Barb Wire.” In this post, she expounds on why she wants guys to stay out of women’s and girls’ sports.
I’m a mom to three men. I’ve been married to a wonderful man for more than 40 years. I had a great relationship with my dad. With all of these guys, I’ve enjoyed playing recreational “sports,” such as tennis, basketball and even – because I know how to throw a perfect spiral (Thanks to my dad, a football coach who had four daughters.) – football. But, I want boys and men to stay out of girls’ and women’s designated sports.
Back in 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments passed. Here’s what that means, according to the US Department of Health & Human Services: Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in the education programs and activities of entities that receive federal financial assistance. Please visit the website for specific prohibitions and further elaboration.
Here’s how that amendment affected my life. By the time my junior year rolled around – after Title IX passed, my high school (Washington High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota), finally got its first girls’ basketball team. There were about 1800 students at the school, and if statistically half were girls, there would have been plenty of female athletes available for a great team. My little sister made the first team, and I covered “girls’ basketball” for the sports section of our school newspaper. So, yes, I’ve been there, and seen what a profound effect that particular act had on life as we knew it back in the 1970s. All of a sudden, funding became available for sanctioned girls’ teams that competed and traveled, just like the boys’ teams did.
My sister recalled how during the first basketball game, she went onto the court, saw the crowd in the bleachers of the gym and spotted my mom sitting in the bleachers – crying. She asked my mom afterward why the tears, and my mom told her that they were tears of joy, that her daughter could finally play on a team and not have to play on city league teams that played outdoors in the summer.
In fact, that first year, as you’ll see in this photo of my sister, the girls’ basketball team wore “track” uniforms.
But, what a difference! Title IX opened all types of doors for girls who would rather play sports than get into college on academic merit alone. Don’t get me wrong: both academics and extra-curricular activities are important for a well-rounded student, but excelling at both can mean a further advantage to gaining scholarships.
It also gave girls who loved to play sports the opportunity to be on a team that traveled and represented the school. All of a sudden, pep rallies included the girls’ teams. We didn’t have to take a back seat any longer.
Fast forward to what’s happening today … where boys who “identify” as girls are allowed to play on girls’ teams and compete in girls’ sports. What a throwback in culture to the early ’70s and even before that decade. Take, for example, the transgender swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania, Lia Thomas. Thomas is the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division 1 title in any collegiate sport, setting records in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle races.
Thomas, a male, underwent a year of testosterone suppressant to become eligible under the NCAA to compete in women’s sports. The editor-in-chief of “Swimming World, “John Lohn, argues that this policy is “not nearly stringent enough to create a level playing field between Thomas and the biological females against whom she is racing.” He further explains that Thomas has been building his muscles and basically his body for years with the aid of male-equivalent amounts of testosterone. In other words, you can take away the hormone, but you cannot tear down what’s been done already. Indeed, when you look at the mere size of some of these guys standing on podiums next to female athletes, you can easily see how they might have an advantage.
Furthermore, we are beginning to see women getting hurt and hurt badly while on playing fields and courts, from boys and men. We are referring to brain damage, concussions, etc.
We are seeing girls traumatized by having boys/men changing in locker rooms near them.
No Boys Allowed
It appears that more men who are not doing well in the men’s world of collegiate competition are now interested in becoming “women” and dominating the record books there. It’s interesting, you don’t see this happening the other way around, with more women insisting on competing in male-dominated sports, and why is that? Because in general, we physically aren’t able to run faster, lift more weight, etc., than men. Granted, there might be an anomaly out there who can qualify to be a firefighter or do something on equal par with men, but frankly, it’s not in our genes. And, that’s great for her if she can qualify under the original – some might call them “men’s” – standards. Personally, I expect a female fire fighter to be able to operate equipment with the best of the them.
The Olympics
Furthermore, I recently talked with a female former Olympian who is very concerned about this move toward allowing men to compete in women’s sports, especially the Olympics. I hope this doesn’t shock you too much, but according to her, there are countries – such as Russia and China – who already force women Olympic contestants to become pregnant and then to abort their babies, in order to get a dose of hormones naturally that will make them better competitors.
These countries will not think twice about forcing some of their males to compete as women, and consequently will alter their bodies (hormonally or surgically) to do so to win.
As of July 23, the World Aquatics organization created an “Open” category for swimming events. Last year, it decided not to allow any transgender woman who had been through male puberty or gender reassignment surgery (or both) after the age of 12 to compete. So, that means, that Lia Thomas would not be allowed to compete any longer. The Union Cycliste International (cycling governing organization) dictated that “transitioned after (male)puberty” would not be able to compete in women’s events.
I see two problems right away. With swimming, this means a male needs to have had the surgeries and treatments before he even hits puberty, and in cycling, men can still “ride along.” The president of Union Cycliste International, in an online “Forbes'” magazine article, said cycling was “open to everyone, including transgender people.”
“Forbes” also lists these organizations as denying transgender women from playing in matches/competitions: International Rugby League and British Triathlon Federation. In fact, the triathlon and swimming organizations have decided to create transgender categories for competition.
“Forbes” also noted that only transgender women (men who desire to be women) are affected, and not the other way around. The article also noted that more than 20 states have enacted laws that do not allow transgender athletes in school sports.
Barb Wire Conclusion: It’s time to stop the madness. It’s time to resist the idea that boys and men can play girls’ and women’s sports, and that it’s fair/equal/equitable for them to do so. Let’s take back Title IX and give it some teeth. It doesn’t have to be so complicated, and girls and women don’t have to get hurt, give up their rights or live in fear in dressing rooms.
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
Hi Barbara,
Because of Title IX, my daughter Nicole (and another girl) played on the boys varsity Lacrosse team at Rockville High School during the 2002-2003 school year. Lacrosse was a new sport to the school and they only had funding for the boys team. Boys and girls Lacrosse are two very different sports. The girls version is like Field Hockey played not bent over, while boys Lacrosse resembles football with hand held weapons. The boys wear the same padding and helmets as Football. While the girls got less field time than the boys, they took and gave their licks to the opposing teams when they did play. I went to all of her games, and snickered to myself at the comments from fans of the other team when my daughter took off her helmet and her ponytail fell out. One time she was headed down field with the ball being chased by two big defenders. They creamed her one on each side and sent her to the ground like a rag doll with the ball rolling away free. Our school fans jumped to their feet with a collective gasp… but not me, I just sat there. We all watched as she sprang to her feet and went after them, because as far as she was concerned, that was her damn ball. She earned her varsity letter and wore it proudly on her school jacket.
THAT is what Title IX is for, not the abomination of poorly performing male athletes all of a sudden pretending to be women so they can become champions.