Gender Equality - Fact or Fiction?

By: Ryan Hetrick

Some say that females should not be able to participate in male sports and vice versa for reasons of: physicality, athleticism, and pure skill. The social norm allows us to follow a set schedule of men competing sports segregated from women. This social norm has been challenge and more and more data is coming out about how this divide between sexes in sports could or should been seen.

In class on last Thursday we watched a short video comparing both a male and female athlete in not just a sport, but a combat sport, meant to show the true aggressiveness and combative nature also dwell within females.

The study was conducted to compare the power or force per square inch of a punch from each athlete. In the first test the male was to punch a live human in the stomach, then would be repeated by a female in the same manner. After both athletes were allowed their turn, the human subject, a training partner for fighters around the country, couldn't distinguish a difference between punches. 

The following test used a more scientific approach and both athletes were to punch a dummy that would measure the force of their punch. Again, the male led and the female followed in the punch. The scientific data had concluded that the female punch with over 200 pounds of force more than the male's punch. To the naked eye, this test would undoubtedly prove that females have just as much, even more of a punch than a male would.

Now on to my analysis of this test/data. I do believe that females are just as aggressive as males when it comes down to competition but I believe that this test of raw power was not strict enough on exact guidelines when both athletes took their punching turn. The female punched the actual human after he had already been punched 3 times (the female mistook the test the first time). Also, the actual motivation for the test comes into play. The male from a body language standpoint, look as if he was simply going through the motions and completing the test, while it was very apparent that the female athlete was excited and motivated for this test of power.

In the final test, the male again punched with a very blaze' attitude and went through the motions of a straight punch. On the females turn she switched stances and delivered a left hook that would send just about anyone to the floor for a knockout. While impressive, the test was instantly skewed. To compare two different styles of punches and stances is very irresponsible and will absolutely lead to inconclusive results, which I believe took place in this experiment.

So back to my first paragraph... Do I believe males and females could compete together? Some day, depending on the sport, absolutely. But, that can only happen in a very specific and calculated manner. The media will most likely ruin this idea and have too high of expectations should the barrier be cross in say the NFL or NBA. Could Brittany Griner compete with some men in the NBA? Probably. Could she dominate like she does in the women's games? No, and the media would make that the expectation, and kill the idea of men and women competing. I have a lot more on my mind about the topic but I think I've rambled on enough about it for today.