No doubt this will all be marked down as another incident of transphobia. Or hatred, or whatever it is that it’s all being called now. You know, that simple observation that male and female musculature, on average of course, differ and that this provides advantages in certain activities. This advantage not disappearing because of a claim of the possession of a female brain.
Do note that we’re not arguing with that concept of the possession. Only that there are times when musculature does indeed matter – when running a race for example – and when it doesn’t – being polite about pronouns of choice for example.
But, you know, this is indeed a problem:
Transgender runners can compete in Boston Marathon as the sex they identify with. NO body changes required. Males who identify as female can secure places despite not having times quick enough to have qualified in the male categories. @paulajradcliffe https://t.co/V4nvsUZQSu
— FairPlayForWomen (@fairplaywomen) 7 April 2019
Well, yes:
The serious significance here is worse because Boston is notoriously difficult to qualify for. Opening women’s QT’s up to any male who ‘self-identifies’ as female is unfair because the end result will be that female BQT’s are made harder due to the added numbers achieving them. https://t.co/P9BQS95qak
— Paula Radcliffe (@paulajradcliffe) 7 April 2019
For those who prefer it all written out:
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] Paula Radcliffe: Transgender runners who identify as female get ‘unfair’ advantage to qualify for Boston Marathon One user hit back that “people should be able to identify how they chose”, to which Radcliffe replied: “They can identify however they want to. Just not in a sporting competition where they can deprive a woman of a qualifying place. “This is because qualifying times for women are slower than for men since biological men are capable of running faster than biological women.” [/perfectpullquote]Isn’t that appalling. Insisting upon discussing biological reality when considering trans issues. Rather not the point at all isn’t it, not the point amounting to a hate crime?
Not really muscles – bigger lung capacity, bigger and more powerful heart, better circulation to muscles, taller and stronger bones. Since this is the marathon in this instance, bigger and stronger muscles aren’t that important.
There’s some* evidence that women outperform men in very long distance ultra-marathons.
* ‘some’ because there aren’t very many such races and they aren’t as carefully controlled and monitored as standard marathons.