Reading much of this thread I think the debate is being misrepresented. There are several key points that I would like to put forward. Before I do I would like to clearly stare that anybody should be allowed to identify as any gender they wish or none. Nobody should misgender intentionally. In most social situations trans women can be treated as if they are women. However in some circumstances, such as sport, sex is more relevant than gender. This is not to say that sex is the be all and end all, it’s actually about sex based advantage and there are males with intersex conditions who do not have advantage from their male biology (for example through CAIS) and others who do (through conditions like 5-ARD. In addition the argument is not about dominance it’s about out if category advantage:
1) Nobody is suggesting barring somebody from a category for being trans. Trans women are being excluded for being male not for being trans.
2) The female category exists to exclude male advantage It does not exist due to gender.
3) It is known that male advantage exists. As such the burden is on those who claim that it is removed to evidence that this is the case.
4) It is clearly not the case for anybody who has purely socially transitioned and not undertaken any medical transition. This is the case with the majority of the publicised high school athletes that are impacted by the legislation that is being proposed in many US states
5) In terms of hormone treatment there is no good evidence that demonstrates that male advantage is removed. If you have such evidence then please provide it.
6) The existence of trans men on T doesn’t invalidate the rules. They can be fairly accommodated in the male category rather than competing whilst using powerful PEDs and no amount of T will overcome the advantage of male development.
I completely understand that transwomen wish to be validated as women by competing in women’s sport. But the word woman means adult human female. Sex is highly relevant and sex based advantage is the only reason that segregation is legal. If there were no advantage then there would be no legitimate purpose in segregating.
1) Nobody is suggesting barring somebody from a category for being trans. Trans women are being excluded for being male not for being trans.
2) The female category exists to exclude male advantage It does not exist due to gender.
3) It is known that male advantage exists. As such the burden is on those who claim that it is removed to evidence that this is the case.
4) It is clearly not the case for anybody who has purely socially transitioned and not undertaken any medical transition. This is the case with the majority of the publicised high school athletes that are impacted by the legislation that is being proposed in many US states
5) In terms of hormone treatment there is no good evidence that demonstrates that male advantage is removed. If you have such evidence then please provide it.
6) The existence of trans men on T doesn’t invalidate the rules. They can be fairly accommodated in the male category rather than competing whilst using powerful PEDs and no amount of T will overcome the advantage of male development.
I completely understand that transwomen wish to be validated as women by competing in women’s sport. But the word woman means adult human female. Sex is highly relevant and sex based advantage is the only reason that segregation is legal. If there were no advantage then there would be no legitimate purpose in segregating.