I was watching pro golf coverage on the news and it seems so odd that men and women compete separately - same goes with pro bowling. Just seems weird to me that a game of skill is gendered when you can’t even raise an argument that someone might have an advantage because of what’s between their legs.
We’re not talking “average joe” taking on Serena Williams. It’s pro-athletes on both sides.
And in most physical sports, being able to build muscle faster is considered an advantage. Even Serena Williams seems to agree on that point.
And yes, there are a lot of fragile egos in sports. So it makes sense to keep the leagues separate, as I said, it wouldn’t do to have professionals cry foul and blame it on genders when they lost. There’s enough stupid shit like that already.
Plus, if it turned out that it did make a difference, I don’t think it would be as fun for the ones that didn’t end up domineering the top placements.
Why don’t we figure out how to identify differences that do matter and are commonly correlated with sex… the way boxing has weight classes? For instance, if testosterone level is the thing (not a sports scientist, I have no idea if it is), make 3-4 classes based on that. (If you only have 2 classes, people will figure out how to make it a sex-based thing.). Your sex isn’t the issue. That criterion is the issue. That way, differences are dealt with without everyone having to fit into 2 rigid gender categories, and the categories there are based on relevant traits. Plus, it doesn’t exclude intersex people.