As inclusive and welcoming as possible
A new study has been commissioned.
University of Gloucestershire has been commissioned by UK Athletics (UKA) to lead an important new study around transgender athletes.
Experts from the University will consult with transgender athletes and advocacy groups to examine how the sport of athletics can be as inclusive and welcoming as possible.
The sport of athletics? What does that mean? Is there a single sport called “athletics”?
Pause to consult Google
Yes, there is.
Athletics is a group of sporting events that involves competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross-country running, and racewalking.
Ok, got it. So, all stuff that relies on strength and size to do well.
So now the question becomes what do they mean by “how the sport of athletics can be as inclusive and welcoming as possible”?
Unfortunately, we know what they mean. They mean as inclusive and welcoming of men into women’s athletics as possible. That of course entails allowing men to destroy women’s athletics.
Why don’t experts consult with women athletes for a change, to find out how the sport of athletics can continue to have a place for women instead of being for men only? Why don’t they care about that?
Just like someone who has blood in his or her stool, and doesn’t want to go to the doctor to find out it’s due to colorectal cancer, they don’t ask women about inclusive athletics because they don’t want to hear an answer they don’t want to accept. And it’s even easier to avoid because they don’t want to know about it.
“Athletics” is what is called “track and field” in the US.
Ah, but if they ask cis woman athletes, the vast majority* say they have no problem including trans women athletes.
*after you eliminate the bigots
It really is striking that regardless of which sporting body, country, or research group, every time there is an announcement of this sort there is never mention of consulting with female athletes, their representatives, or other stakeholders. Striking. The research doesn’t even appear to be based on a question of biological facts, known physical ability and performance differences between male and female athletes, or indeed outmoded concepts such as fairness and opportunity for women.
The UKA Principle Statement is actually not bad, other than it doesn’t apply to local or national school competition, meaning boys who have gone through puberty can transition and compete against girls while still at school – a middle finger to the World Athletics body who forced them to amend their policy.
The University of Gloucester press release is interesting in that it doesn’t tell us who, or even which department, is undertaking the study. My guess its going to be some sort of social science aligned group, rather than biology/physiology aligned.
As an aside, the phrase ‘analysis of findings’ seemed strange to me. Does it to any of you? In my work I measure things to collect data, analyse this data in context of other known facts and standards/guidelines; and then I make findings. I guess I’m quibbling and the data could be regarded as the ‘findings,’ but that seems a grandiose description for raw data.
Indeed, Rob. I suspect ‘analysis of findings’ is the bit where presented with the facts you throw up your hands and declare “well, it not as if sport has ever been fair”.
These consultations are a bit like considering if it’s a good idea to suspend trespassing laws and issue lock picking tools to the self identifying homeless population, but not bothering to talk to homeowners, tenants or landlords, because those people will still have the same amount of housing they did before, just, you know, shared a bit, and if everyone’s a bit generous of spirit, what could go wrong, you know?
Sastra #3
Or the ones who want to keep their jobs.
Or the ones hoping to get a job in the future.
Or the ones who don’t want their names pulled through the dirt all over the internet.
Or the ones who have given up on sports altogether.
Etc. etc.