But some have argued that small changes could make these sports more inclusive.
I think this sport is cool. Not only does it allow for mixed teams, but it was built around this idea and I think it’s pretty revolutionary. The only real reason teams are separated by gender is due to the different physical traits people develop due to their biological sex. This makes sense to me on some level, but I feel like changing some rules might make this pointless and could be reworked to fit everyone. This could also allow for different techniques, for example that women in Korfball are more agile teammates than men.
— Michael, Julia R. Masterman, Philadelphia PA
I think it depends on the sport, but mixed sports is an interesting idea that hasn’t really been explored as much as it should be. It’s hard to know if this is sustainable when sports like korfball are so rare. This article mentions that in some situations women had better agility and accuracy than men, which I think shows that gender, while having a substantial impact, is not as limiting as some might make it out to be. believe. For example, I am a figure skater. In skating, men and women are separated in competition because men can perform much higher level jumps. There is a mentality that men are able to do quadruple and quintuple jumps due to biological advantages, so women, who primarily compete in triple jumps, must be separated to have a fair chance. However, while men often perform higher jumps than women, women generally have better spins, techniques, artistry, and edge work. Theoretically, if figure skating became mixed, a good place to start would be to change the scoring system so that less emphasis is placed on jumps and more points can be accumulated in other skill areas. Mixed figure skating as it exists today would be disadvantageous to women, not because they are inferior, but because the system is designed to prioritize men’s bodies and abilities.
— Devin, New York
The subject of men’s and women’s sports alone is a very controversial subject in our current society. From a woman’s perspective, I have experienced one side of the issue, but I think I can understand where men are coming from. Many men are biologically taller and taller than women and exhibit certain characteristics that we are unable to reproduce, but does that really mean we should be separated? For example, I play on a women’s indoor volleyball team and I have no desire to play with men. I train and compete at a challenging level that suits me. In the summer, beach volleyball becomes available and many tournaments feature mixed teams with rules in place that do not create physical advantages. When I play with my dad at a pool called Reverse Co-ed, we play with a women’s sized net, but men are only allowed to hit the ball behind a specified line, thus offsetting the advantages. This all makes sense when I think about it, but when I play I focus on the game and don’t feel any emotions that signal injustice or unfair advantages.
— Adalena, the Potomac school
Several students shared their experiences playing on mixed and single-sex teams. They reveal the promises and challenges of true integration.
With mixed sports, the sports world would be open to various opportunities, which could lead to improvements. This could help reduce adversities between women and men in sport and allow a wide audience to enjoy the game.
However, my experience with mixed sports like basketball is that girls were undermined and underestimated by boys and sometimes even by coaches. This led to not passing the ball, causing a drop in the communication aspect of basketball. This factor creates obstacles to teamwork and leads to a lack of confidence and a loss of love for the game. Overall, this diminishes the enjoyment of not only basketball, but also the art of the sport. in general.
