Why gendered athletics can't continue forever | Nancy Hilton | TEDxStJohnsCollege
Summary
TLDRThe speaker, a female athlete and captain of the sports group 'Kunai' at St. John's College, discusses the evolving concept of gender in sports. She advocates for an inclusive system that transcends traditional gender divisions, emphasizing the importance of skill and goals over physical attributes. The talk challenges conventional notions of fairness in sports, highlighting the complexity of gender dynamics and the need for a more nuanced understanding of what it means to be an athlete. It calls for a reevaluation of our perceptions on gender and a broader acceptance of diverse identities in competitive sports.
Takeaways
- 🏋️♀️ The speaker watched the CrossFit Games, specifically a mixed-gender event, on YouTube and it sparked a thought about the possibility of men and women always playing together in sports.
- 🤔 The speaker, a woman and an athlete, questions the traditional gendered sports paradigm and the need for an inclusive approach, especially as the captain of 'Kunai', a sports group at St. John's College open to women, trans, and non-binary athletes.
- 🏷️ Definitions of 'trans' and 'non-binary' are provided to clarify terms that might be new to some, emphasizing the importance of recognizing diverse gender identities in sports.
- 🔄 'Kunai' had to expand its definition of participants, reflecting a broader societal shift away from rigid gender categorizations in sports.
- 🚫 The speaker argues against the strict separation of athletes into male and female categories, advocating for a more inclusive approach that acknowledges the existence of individuals who do not fit traditional gender categories.
- 🏅 The Olympic Charter's fourth pillar is cited, emphasizing sport as a human right and the need for an active lifestyle for all, regardless of gender.
- 🤝 The speaker suggests that the idea of men and women being aggressive together in sports is seen as 'dangerous territory', reflecting societal concerns about violence between genders.
- 🏀 Personal anecdotes about playing basketball highlight how sports can defy social norms and allow for behaviors that would not be acceptable outside the context of the game.
- 🤕 The assumption that co-ed sports are less rough is challenged, with the speaker asserting that the risk of injury is more about skill level than gender.
- 🧐 The speaker encourages the audience to challenge their preconceived notions about gender, particularly in the context of sports, and to reflect on why certain ideas might be uncomfortable.
- 🏆 The concept of an 'even playing field' is scrutinized, with the argument that focusing on fairness in sports should not lead to an exclusionary system but rather an inclusive one that accounts for a variety of factors beyond gender.
- 🌟 The potential for a new system that categorizes athletes by skill and goal rather than gender is proposed, aiming to create a more inclusive and fair sports environment for all.
Q & A
What event inspired the speaker to question the traditional separation of men and women in sports?
-The speaker was inspired by a CrossFit Games event called 'swim paddle swim,' where men and women competed together.
What is the name of the sports group the speaker captains at St. John's College?
-The speaker captains a sports group called Kunai.
Who is Kunai open to, and what does it represent?
-Kunai is open to women, trans, and non-binary athletes, representing an inclusive space for athletes of various gender identities.
What does the term 'trans' describe in the context of the script?
-The term 'trans' describes individuals who have transitioned from one gender or sex to another.
How does the speaker define the term 'non-binary'?
-The term 'non-binary' is used to describe individuals who move between genders freely or have no gender at all.
Why has Kunai had to expand its definition of participants?
-Kunai had to expand its definition because the traditional gendered paradigm is in trouble and doesn't work for everyone.
What is the fourth pillar of Olympism as stated in the Olympic Charter?
-The fourth pillar of Olympism is that the practice of sport is a human right.
Why does the speaker believe it's important to challenge our conceptions about who can play sports?
-The speaker believes it's important because our current conceptions may deny a crucial part of being human and exclude certain individuals from the transformative aspects of being an athlete.
What does the speaker suggest as an alternative to the current exclusionary system in sports?
-The speaker suggests creating an inclusionary system with no gender necessary, separating athletes by skills and goals instead of gender.
What does the speaker argue about the concept of an 'even playing field' in sports?
-The speaker argues that the concept of an even playing field is flawed because it assumes that all athletes should be equal, which negates the purpose of sport, such as excellence and achievement.
How does the speaker address the concern about fairness when all genders compete together?
-The speaker suggests that fairness is about athletic performance, not controlling for all variables, and that competition is designed to highlight differences in performance.
What does the speaker mean by 'athletes have never been equal'?
-The speaker means that in sports, there will always be winners, those who come close, and those who lose, and that this inequality is part of the nature of competition.
What is the speaker's view on the importance of discussing gender dynamics in sports?
-The speaker views the discussion of gender dynamics as incredibly important, even though it is uncomfortable, and encourages challenging preconceived ideas about gender in sports.
How does the speaker define a great athlete?
-The speaker defines a great athlete as someone who not only excels in their sport but also inspires, represents potential, and emboldens others to try harder in life.
Outlines
🏋️♀️ Inclusivity in Sports: Challenging Gender Norms
The speaker reflects on the experience of watching the CrossFit Games and the idea of men and women competing together in sports. As a woman and athlete, she leads a sports group called Kunai at St. John's College, which is open to women, trans, and non-binary individuals. The paragraph discusses the evolving definitions of gender and the need to rethink traditional gender categories in sports. It emphasizes the transformative benefits of sports for all, regardless of gender or sex, and the importance of challenging societal norms and conceptions about gender in sports.
🤔 Questioning the Concept of an Even Playing Field
This paragraph delves into the complexities of gender dynamics in sports, urging the audience to challenge their preconceived notions about gender. It addresses the concern of fairness in sports when considering the participation of all gender expressions. The speaker argues against the oversimplification of athletic success based on hormones and highlights the multifaceted factors contributing to an athlete's performance. The paragraph also critiques the idea of an even playing field, suggesting that it is a myth and that competition inherently involves differences among participants.
🌟 Redefining Athletic Excellence Beyond Gender
The final paragraph of the script proposes a radical reimagining of sports participation by suggesting an inclusionary system that transcends gender. It posits that athletes could be categorized based on their skills and goals rather than their gender, fostering a more equitable and inclusive environment. The speaker also redefines what it means to be a great athlete, emphasizing inspiration, representation, and the potential to motivate others, rather than solely focusing on traditional measures of success like points scored or speed.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Crossfit Games
💡Gender Paradigm
💡Trans
💡Non-Binary
💡Kunai
💡Olympism
💡Aggression in Sports
💡Cultural Norms
💡Inclusivity
💡Even Playing Field
💡Trans Athlete
Highlights
The speaker watched the CrossFit Games on YouTube, specifically the swim paddle swim event, which sparked thoughts on gender-inclusive sports.
The concept of men and women playing together or against each other in sports is explored.
The speaker is a woman and an athlete who captains a sports group at St. John's College called Kunai, which is inclusive of women, trans, and non-binary athletes.
Kunai has expanded its definition of participants due to the evolving understanding of gender.
The traditional separation of athletes into male and female categories is questioned as it may not be inclusive for all.
The Olympic Charter's fourth pillar is cited, emphasizing sport as a human right for all, regardless of gender.
The speaker challenges the audience to reconsider their conceptions of gender in sports.
The potential for violence in mixed-gender sports is discussed as a societal concern.
Sports are described as a space where athletes can defy social norms, which can be both exciting and troubling.
The speaker addresses the discomfort and difficulty of discussing gender dynamics in sports.
The concern about fairness in sports when including athletes of all gender expressions is raised.
The role of testosterone and male characteristics in athletic performance is questioned for being overemphasized.
The speaker argues against the idea of an even playing field, suggesting it is a flawed concept.
Dr. Rachel McKinnon's perspective on the unfair advantage debate in sports is mentioned, challenging the notion.
A proposal for an inclusionary system in sports without gender separation is presented.
The idea of categorizing athletes by skill and goals rather than gender is suggested for better team dynamics.
The speaker concludes by encouraging the audience to think about what makes a great athlete, beyond just physical abilities.
Transcripts
last summer i had the opportunity of
watching the crossfit games
not in person unfortunately but on
youtube
in a particular event a swim paddle swim
the men and women started and played
together
this is where my second thought moment
began
[Music]
what if men and women always play
together
or even against each other
i am a woman and an athlete and
alongside five other women i captain a
sports group here at st john's college
called kunai
kunai is available to women trans and
non-binary athletes
now some of these terms might be new for
us so i'm going to define some of them
the term trans is used to describe
somebody who has transitioned from one
gender or sex into another
the term non-binary which you'll hear me
say a lot is used to describe somebody
who moves between genders freely
or has no gender at all
kunai has recently had to expand its
definition of who can participate
because this gendered paradigm is in
trouble
beyond saint john's college
we separate men and women boys and girls
into these categories when they play
but this doesn't work for everybody
we cannot separate athletes into men and
women as we've so strictly defined them
because there are people who do not fit
into these categories
i want everyone
regardless of their gender or sex to
experience the transformative
challenging
healthy and fun aspects of being an
athlete
the fourth pillar of olympism in the
olympic charter states that the practice
of sport is a human right
we all need to be active
we might not all become olympians but we
all need to be active
however if we don't change our
conceptions about who can play and where
we will continue to deny a crucial part
of being human
so if this is such a problem why haven't
men and women always play together
[Music]
i think there's an unexpected reason
for men to be aggressive with men
and women with women is one thing but
for men and women to be aggressive
together
is another
we feel like we're treading into
dangerous territory
violence between men and women is a
serious issue we're trying to combat in
our culture
why am i characterizing sports as
violent or aggressive
a minute ago wasn't i just talking about
how competitive and fun they could be
[Music]
at my four years at st john's college
i've played many different sports
but i was raised in basketball i've
played for almost over a decade and when
i tell people this they have two
reactions they either say nancy i love
basketball let's play some time
or they wish i'd never mentioned it
[Music]
why is a sport
polarizing this way
when i'm playing basketball i'm doing
things i generally wouldn't do i can
invade somebody's personal space i can
swap the ball out of their hands i can
be bombastic and loud and gloat
in general i'm given license to defy our
social rules
and inherent to the design of many games
is this violation of our cultural norms
no wonder it bothers us so much
sometimes athletes come to kunai
thinking that it won't be as rough
as our co-ed sports here at st john's
college
they are wrong
[Music]
we think that by playing with people who
have the same physicality as us or the
same bodies as us that we're less likely
to get hurt
but this isn't the case either
what it depends on most is the relative
skill of the athletes on the court or
field around you
risk of getting injured
is inherent to sports
whether it be a man a woman a trans or
non-binary athlete
so before i move on to my next point i
want to address some of the emotions
that might be coming up
gender dynamics is really difficult to
talk about
it's quite uncomfortable
and ultimately i'm not wedded to any of
the ideas i'm telling you but this
conversation needs to happen
it is incredibly important
but i want all of you to challenge your
ideas on gender what have you been told
about men women trans and non-binary
people that is not useful or true
if some of these ideas bother you
as they might
i want all of you to reflect on them
because they are intelligent ones
these feelings will tell you a lot about
yourself
so as i was preparing for today and
having con conversations with many
different athletes
[Music]
one issue kept coming up
the concern about the uneven playing
field
will it be fair for people of all gender
expressions to play together
is it fair that everyone will be judged
together
through selective media we are led to
believe that people with more
testosterone and more male
characteristics will perform better
end of story
this is not always the case
there are so many more factors that go
into an athlete's success or failure
than just their hormones
they are not the be all end-all
there are trans and non-binary athletes
who with these testosterone differences
who perform average
average
among their peers
though disgruntled parents
athletes and media would have you
believe differently
when athletic organizations try to
control for these individual variances
ultimately they fail
because none of us
have ever been equal
athletes have never been equal
competition is designed to highlight
this
some people will win
some people will come really close
and some will lose
the issue really begins with the idea
that there is an even playing field
at all
when we're trying when we're measuring
athletic competitions what we're trying
to control for and make sure that we're
measuring is athletic performance and
not some other ability
but what does it mean to have an even
playing field
what we're really concerned with is
fairness
wouldn't we have to control for all of
the variables
make sure nobody's getting an unfair
advantage
should we mandate that coaches train all
of their athletes the same
all athletes should diet the same
protein powder and supplements should be
outlawed
should athletes with prodigious height
weight or muscle mass be barred from
competition because of their genetics
if we take the idea of the even playing
field to its logical extreme
everyone becomes the same
and the purposes of sport
like excellence
achievement
and fun
become irrelevant and meaningless
when a trans athlete
performs and does well maybe even wins
it's because of their hormones
but when a trans athlete
loses or performs average
nothing is said about it
i think dr rachel mckinnon
put it best she's a professor and a
trans athlete
in her recent article in the new york
times called i won a world championship
some people aren't happy about it
she writes if you think i have an unfair
competitive advantage consider this
i lose most of my races
how can i have an unfair advantage over
her if she beats me most of the time
and why should my right to compete
be contingent on not winning
there are now
and in the future we'll continue to be
really excellent and talented trans and
non-binary athletes
but as things stand
there's not enough room for them to
compete
so
instead of keeping our exclusionary
system what if we create a new
inclusionary system
no gender necessary
instead of separating athletes by their
gender we can separate them by their
skills and goals
the people who want to be really elite
and work their bodies and be highly
competitive
they can play together
and the people who want to be active and
have fun through competition but not
necessarily become elite
they can play together
by putting people of the same goals and
skills together
we can create better teams that work for
everyone
earlier i asked you what it might look
like
for men and women to play together
i also want to ask you what what it
means to be a great athlete
think about some great athletes you
might have heard of or know
are they great because they score a lot
of points or they run really fast
that could be part of it
but i think it's only a part
i think what we really mean
is something like
this athlete inspires me
this athlete looks like me
and they have shown me the wealth of
potential in a human being
this athlete has emboldened me to try
harder in my life
many more people than we think
can be that
if they are given the chance to show it
thank you
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