DISCUSSION POST

CLASSMATE 1

Many people think that certain sports are tailored to specific genders. For example, football is viewed as a male-dominated sport. However, I believe that any sex or gender is more than capable of playing any sport they wish. Therefore I do not think it is right to group participants according to their biological sex or gender identity.

First, sex and gender are two very different things. According to Lehmiller (2017), "sex is a term used to categorize whether someone is biologically male, female, or intersex. While "gender is a psychological term that encapsulates all of the psychological, cultural, and social characteristics, we think of as belonging to men, women, and other gender groups" (pp.118). 

 

These two definitions reveal that an individual can be biologically born a female but identify as a male and vice versa. Imagine this same individual is either transgender or transsexual and is trying out for the football team. Is it right to deny this individual the right to play football just because they were born with the sex of a female? To deny them of this opportunity would be discrimination and encourage further gender stereotyping. If the individual thinks they are more than capable of partaking in a certain competitive or professional sport, they have every right to try.

 

For me to answer the next question, imagine this scenario.  

 

A group of biologically born females are entering a women's wrestling match. Suddenly, a male (has the physical appearance of a man) walks through the door, identifies himself as a female, and wants to join the wrestling competition against all females. Would it be fair to the other women for the wrestling association to allow this individual to wrestle? 

 

These kinds of situations make me believe that yes, under very particular circumstances, it is necessary for certain sports to categorize participants based on sex but not necessarily gender. Like mentioned before, sex is someone's biological make-up. Even if the individual identified as a woman, unless they have undergone sex reassignment therapy, that person still has the strength of a man with a very different muscle and bone development than women. Therefore I would not consider than to be fair. 

2017). Gender and Gender Identity. In The Psychology of Human Sexuality, Chapter 2 (p. 118-140). Document posted in University of Maryland Global Campus PSYC 332 E250 online, archived at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/umuc/reader.action?docID=5106984&ppg=149

CLASSMATE 2:

When it comes to competitive and professional sports, we often see that males are grouped with males and females are grouped with females. How certain are we that this might be strictly based on the biological sex or gender of the individual? I’ve had a difficult time sorting through my thought’s and determining how I think sports should be categorized.

I think when it comes to certain competitive sports such as cross country or swimming, I do not think that biological sex or gender should have anything to do with how it is categorized. According to Lehmiller (2017), when Caster Semenya competed in the Women’s 800-meter race it was controversial because of her androgen insensitivity (p.123). However, her physical appearance is that of a woman but the genetic makeup of a man.

The world is always changing, if this question was posed to me a few years ago I think I would say, “I absolutely think sports should be categorized by biological sex.” But I’ve seen so many young girls join the football team and thrive. I honestly cannot say if this is because of their gender identity or their love for the sport.  I think in certain situations biological sex matters and in others gender of the individual matters more.

 

2017). Gender and Gender Identity. In The Psychology of Human Sexuality, Chapter 5 (p. 123). Document posted in University of Maryland Global Campus PSYC 332 E250 online, archived at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/umuc/reader.action?docID=5106984&ppg=149