There are undeniable biological differences between men and women, and in some cases modifications in sports can help promote fairness and safety. However, this does not justify the many clear gender-based distinctions in athletics to such an extent in which these supposed slight changes ultimately make it so that they do not even appear as being the same sport.
Although sports are separated for physical reasons, tradition has significantly influenced how men and women are thought to compete. Frequently male sports feature strength, aggression and physicality while women highlight aesthetic aspects such as grace and appearance.
It no longer feels as if these are small adjustments, but creates the impression that they are entirely separate sports built around different expectations. These expectations are most prevalent in uniforms today. Female athletes have been sexualized throughout the years, required to wear clothing and uniforms that place a greater emphasis and judgment based on physical appearance rather than practicality and their overall athletic abilities.
Sports such as women’s beach volleyball and gymnastics have faced much criticism for requiring uniforms that are too revealing and meant primarily for presentation. Similarly, in lacrosse, athletes are needed to wear kilts or traditional skirts further emphasizing how women are objectified in sports that prioritize tradition and image rather than performance.
“It is widely recognized that sex-related physiological differences exist…Paradoxically, the same science that acknowledges such differences is often ignored in the development of uniforms…growing scientific evidence indicate that inadequate uniforms compromise performance, increase the risk of injury, and generate anxiety related to menstrual leakage,” according to EXCLI Journal.
A cultural shift is underway in competitive sports with women actively challenging outdated uniform standards. As a result, governing bodies have only recently begun implementing changes and updating dress codes to ensure female athletes can compete comfortably.
Uniforms and other gear are not only to distinguish teams and identify players, but can help maintain safety. The clearest divide is in lacrosse where men and women are essentially two completely different sports that operate under the same name. Women’s lacrosse is officially known as a non-contact game whereas the men are extremely physical against each other. The two significantly differ from contact, protection, players on the field, stick and pocket design, field size, and its gameplay and rules.
“Men’s and women’s lacrosse were played under virtually the same rules, with no protective equipment, until the mid-1930s. At that time, men’s lacrosse began evolving dramatically, while women’s lacrosse continued to remain true to the game’s original rules. Men’s and women’s lacrosse remain derivations of the same game today, but are played under different rules,” according to Jersey City Lacrosse.
They share the same origin but split due to their development over time, causing the modern game to differ so much. Men’s lacrosse was influenced by North American hockey and football, while women’s lacrosse prioritizes order and finesse.
Often, the refusal to change or even the derivative for change in sports comes from a deep rooted need in tradition. Women’s lacrosse was heavily altered to align with earlier century gender norms. In fact, women were the ones who created this alternative to protect women from public backlash and allow women to participate in competitive sports since aggressive contact sports were socially unacceptable for women.
The same thing can be said for gymnastics where they compete in different events that are still under the same umbrella. Physical differences do shape the events each gender competes in and these varying events allow them to excel and highlight each of their strengths.
Several sports contrast so much because they developed in different eras and it’s appropriate to note how sports are continuously evolving and reflect changes in training, athleticism, and how athletes artistically express themselves.
Although flag football was not created for women, it served as a tool for women and girls to play the sport. Prior to flag football, it was nearly impossible for girls to play football, granted that as the physical differences between genders becomes more apparent as they get older leading to safety concerns.
It’s not that women want to play with men. Instead, they are advocating to make sports more equal and accessible specifically in sports that are so ingrained with traditional gender norms.
When two versions of the same sport become almost unrecognizable, the discussion is no longer about biological differences, but how society has historically viewed male and female athletes. As female sports continue to gain visibility and respect, athletes and organizations should reevaluate and question the necessity of certain differences where the sole purpose of the exists is due to the fact that they have been unchanged for decades.
