- 01 Apr, 2021
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Gender Segregation in sports
Mla format needed.
Sports are of various types, and they are essential activities in any country. Sporting activities enhance the socialization process and unity, and above all, they are a source of revenue. To have competitive sporting activities, there must be gender segregation. Male should compete against male while females compete against female. The aim of classifying males and females in different competition programs is to have an equal opportunity for both genders. However, gender segregation in sport has been a recipe for controversy. It is based on the binary classification of people as male or female, while about three percent of the world’s population cannot be classified as either female or male (Voyles). A person’s anatomical features or testosterone levels may not be used to categorize them in male and female dichotomies. Some people are transgender or bisexual. The case of Casper Semenya in April 2019 best exemplifies this controversy. Court for Arbitration for Sports ruled that it was not fair for Semenya to compete in women’s athletics because of her high testosterone hormone levels. Despite these controversies, gender segregation in sports is necessary since it would be unfair for men to compete against anatomically disadvantaged women. Equality has not been realized.
Men’s anatomical features allow them to play more competitive games than women. According to Joseph and Anderson (589), men increasingly participate in sports, giving them a more comprehensive social network and connections than women. The main challenge is more men participating in sports activities, thereby gaining skills like leadership, teamwork, and decision-making under pressure. To overcome this challenge, women should be encouraged to put more effort into participating in sports programs. That will allow them to be recognized in various sports-related occupations.
Also, inequality in sports is contributed by anatomical differences. The way women’s bodies are structured is different from those of men. Regardless of women’s body structure, they are still able to participate in sports that men play. For example, women can play soccer, rugby, arena football, and powerlifting. But the challenge is that women do not compete with men on the same playing field due to anatomical differences. The solution to the problem is to appreciate women’s efforts and rank them based on their ability to participate in the area putting into consideration anatomical differences (Leong 1251).