Lance Castor, Feminist, Presents....

[Lancecastor]

Should pro sports be gender-specific?

Two recent stories:

1. Augusta National continues to bar women as Members.

2.World's Best Women's Hockey Player Barred From Pro Men's Team

 

[lavender]

 

[Bob_Bytchin]

I think Augusta National's practice is ludicrous. It is not based upon the sport, but the "tradition" and the idea of a "boys club."

Regarding other professional sports, such as hockey, I find no problems excluding women from playing the sport.

The joys of duality.

 

[Rubyfruit]

I didn't know you were a feminist Lance.

 

[Lancecastor]

So you are fine with remaining second class in competition as long as you can go to the chub afterwards for cocktails?

I think Augusta National's practice is ludicrous. It is not based upon the sport, but the "tradition" and the idea of a "boys club."

Regarding other professional sports, such as hockey, I find no problems excluding women from playing the sport.

 

[WaxNWane]

Should pro sports be gender-specific?

Just a point of confusion - the Augusta story has nothing to do with pro sports.

 

[Lancecastor]

I didn't know you were a feminist Lance.

I believe that we should all have equal rights, opportunities and access regardless of our chromosomes.

 

[lavender]

 

[Lancecastor]

Re: Re: Lance Castor, Feminist, Presents....

Just a point of confusion - the Augusta story has nothing to do with pro sports.

No?

What if women weren't allowed to watch the World Series?

 

[Rambling Rose]

So you are fine with remaining second class in competition as long as you can go to the chub afterwards for cocktails?

Are there appetizers at the chub? I don't like to drink on an empty stomach. Look what happened to Rod Stewart.

 

[lavender]

Re: Re: Re: Lance Castor, Feminist, Presents....

 

[Lancecastor]

Here's my thing....let's use pro Golf as an example.

Right now the three top ranked divisions if you will are PGA, LPGA and SPGA for men, women and old men respectively.

Why not have Division 1, 2 & 3 PGA instead, with your inclusion in a particular Division decided by your level of play instead of gender or age?

Lance, since you studied law at such an esteemed university, I'm sure you are aware of the US Supreme Court's jurisprudence regarding the issue of gender equality.

As long as there are legitimate differences between men and women, and as long as there is an equal program for women, then it is no unconstitutionally discriminatory based upon gender.

I do not believe that the August National case could even come close under such scrutiny - although it will not ever be heard by the Supreme Court because there is no state action. The hockey league, on the other hand could present legitimate physiological differences between men and women that could make such action legitimate.

I personally do not have any problems with women being excluded from professional sports. I do realize, other than the NBA/WNBA and the PGA/LPGA, there is not an equal program for women. Is that right? Probably not. Does it bother me, not really.

If this woman can play to the level of the men, I don't see any reason she shouldn't be allowed to play. But, I think the questions posed by the two situations are categorically different.

 

[Lancecastor]

Are there appetizers at the chub? I don't like to drink on an empty stomach. Look what happened to Rod Stewart.

I would think that Rod Stewart has served appetizers on his chub before.

 

[Minkey Boodle]

If men and women are to play golf together on an "even playing field," we all need to tee off from the same place.

 

[sexy-girl]

what if a woman turned out to be as good as being a hockey goal tender as a man ... she would be restricted from earning as much money as a man because of her gender ... what if a NHL team actually wanted her in the goal because she was so good ... could you see the rules being changed under those circumstances ?

considering maybe the goal tending position mostly requires reactions and hand eye coordination rather then strength


likewise with football (soccer) ... they let boys as young as 16 play at the highest level if they are good enough ... if a woman came along who was good enough to play and a club wanted her to play for them i wonder if the rules would change


like lavender though i do understand that men and women are different and their our some sports women couldn't do ... but i can also see some male only sports that women could actually do


PS i apologize if my sentences are making even less sense then normal im not well still and using my brain is hard right now

 

[Lancecastor]

If men and women are to play golf together on an "even playing field," we all need to tee off from the same place.

Well, Division 1 PGA would be furthest away, Division 2 PGA would be closer and Division 3 PGA would use what we now call the women's tees.

 

[Jim_Henson]

Its an if they are good enough, then the rules will change

In Australia some of the women play Aussie Rules in 3rd tier comps with the boys

I'm under the impression that a female golie would be decked far too often for it to matter HOW good she was.

 

[Lancecastor]

some sports women couldn't do ... but i can also see some male only sports that women could actually do

Who says there are pro sports women "can't" do ?

Since when?

 

[Lancecastor]

Isn't it paternalistic and patriarchical to be telling women they can't or shouldn't do something because they might get hurt?

Didn't the Old Boys Club try that with truck driving, capentry, police office, firefighter and all the other trades that used to be "men only" ?

Why should "athlete" be any different?

Its an if they are good enough, then the rules will change

In Australia some of the women play Aussie Rules in 3rd tier comps with the boys

I'm under the impression that a female golie would be decked far too often for it to matter HOW good she was.

 

[sexy-girl]

Who says there are pro sports women "can't" do ?

Since when?

what i meant was that there are sports that women couldn't do on an even par with men ... rugby for example

likewise their are sports that men couldnt do on an even par with women ... gymnastics for example


but if in football a 16 year old kid can score the winning goal against the english champions then i think their may come a time when women get good enough to actually be able to play in the pro leagues ... and the clubs will want to sign them if they are good enough because at least at the start they will be cheaper to hire then men and football in the lower leagues a lot of clubs have very low cash problems

 

[hogjack]

Geesh

If a person of any race, creed, ethnicity, gender, age, etc. can play & perform at the top level [within the same exact rules as all other participants] of course they should be allowed to participate at the highest levels..

The Augusta issue is a completely different topic.

 

[sexy-girl]

you have to understand though also that some women would want female leagues because they play because they enjoy the sport and would want to play against other females


i guess i can see their being trouble in that if the men's game became mixed would it be fair to have a womans only league still

 

[kotori]

Actually, I think professional sports should welcome women to try out. If they were able to make the team, think of the marketing potential. Not only would they attract lots of women spectators, but there would no doubt be a fair number of men from across the spectrum who would be interested if only for the novelty. Once the novelty wore off, if the women actually played up to the professional level, they'd be in, and we'd all be wondering what the fuss had been about.

 

[Guest]

Should pro sports be gender-specific?

Two recent stories:

1. Augusta National continues to bar women as Members.

2.World's Best Women's Hockey Player Barred From Pro Men's Team

1 - Golf is not a sport. Who gives the fuck about golf? See Colin Montgomery? No1 European for ages. He's got tits. So, don't complain.

2 - Women should never allowed to fight on the link. Those long nails are lethal.

 

[hogjack]

,

you have to understand though also that some women would want female leagues because they play because they enjoy the sport and would want to play against other females


i guess i can see their being trouble in that if the men's game became mixed would it be fair to have a womans only league still

That's a great point, especially at "lower levels" of participation such as in high school.

I first dunked a basketball in 8th grade a long time ago. Our team had three guys who could do it at that age. The first female to dunk a basketball in a high school game was last year. The only girl to dunk on in high school. I have played in pickup games with boys/teens/men playing at the rim. I've played in mixed games and there is a monster difference. There just is no comparison overall to size, strength, leaping ability, agressiveness, etc...

If "boys" were allowed to play softball and play on "girls" volleyball teams, for example, in high school there would be a couple of the girls who could still participate (and do well) but overall the teams could eventually be dominated by the boy/teens.

Sports enriches kids and adults of all talent levels. There is a reason genders are different in many ways - and that is a good thing, ain't it? Chicks rule.