1/20 🧵
I have been hearing more frequently the narrative that women's sport apparently exists as a 'protected category' so that women can win (because on this account without it no woman will ever win again)
This is: a) *not* the reason why women's sport exists as a category,
2/20
and b) it is *not* true that women will never win again.
This narrative is profoundly paternalistic and keeps women small.
3/20
Let's unpack this a little:
A. Women's sport exists as a category because the dominance of men athletes was threatened by women competing.
We see this over and over again in the history of sport...
4/20
Exhibit A1: Figure Skating
1902: Madge Syers enters the World Champs and comes 2nd (no rule preventing her, though no woman has ever entered before)
1903: Women banned from World Champs
1905: Segregated women's category
5/20
Exhibit A2: Skeet Shooting
1992 Barcelona: Zhang Shang wins the Gold Medal. The event had always been an open event (no gendered categories)
1996 Atlanta: women banned from shooting
2000 Sydney: Segregated women's category, fewer targets for women