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