Sex Smart
As the topic of Title IX gets revisited and female rights in education could be solidified by Congress, I thought it would be good to bring up the topic of “sex smart” vs. “sex blind.” Additionally, if there is an ideology of a two-gender world, it seems that the difference between gender and sex be explained yet again for those in the back.
Being clear about words and when and how we use them is important. People having a baby say, “Come to our gender reveal party.” What they really mean is “Come to our party to see what sex our baby will be!” Sex — male or female — is determined by biology and our physical bodies.
The baby’s sex will be put on their birth certificate while the expression of their baby’s gender identity will be chosen later in their child’s development as all individuals consider how to express themselves in society (behaviors, clothing, etc.).
Gender focuses on the social issues — the norms, behaviors, and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl, or boy which are thankfully shifting to allow men and boys to be vulnerable and empathetic and women to compete in every sector. Gender roles can change over time and are different in various cultures.
For example, women in many countries are rising to leadership positions and previous ideas of what a woman can or should do expand. I hope there is someone writing the plan to have the US (finally!) join the 59 countries that have elected a woman president! But I digress.
As I shared in Prioritizing Science while Respecting Social Justice — ‘I like to think of gender like color. It would be dull and boring to live in a black-and-white world. A full spectrum of color — of sexual orientation, intersex conditions, gender variance, and the choices available therein — brings so much more vibrancy to our lives!’
Not everyone wants to live in the binary of woman/man, and some will want to express themselves differently than their biological sex (trans people) or shift their expression across a continuum (gender fluid, non-binary, or any of the 68 options currently recognized).
Sex Smart in Sports
To be truly inclusive in sports, we need to be “sex smart” rather than “sex blind.” * This means understanding the difference between biological sex and gender identity and using these terms accurately and appropriately. Language can mitigate confusion and ensure that we respect people’s experiences without losing sight of the biological factors that impact sports competition.
Biological sex is about the physical and physiological traits that make someone male or female — traits like chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive organs. These are unchangeable physical characteristics of males and females due to differing reproductive organs and hormones. When a male goes through puberty, many physical characteristics occur allowing for the development of a body that has the advantages of strength, mass, and speed over the bodies of females.
In sports, understanding the difference between sex and gender is crucial, as it affects the way we organize competitions and ensure fairness. To be inclusive for all and to make competitive sports safe and fair for all, we need to be “sex smart”.
Biological sex differences lead to unchangeable physical characteristics. For example, during puberty, males experience physical changes — such as an increase in muscle mass and strength — due to higher levels of testosterone. These changes give males advantages in sports that require power, speed, and strength. Research shows that by age 14, a boy’s physical abilities can already surpass the records of adult women in events like track and field. The strength and mass advantage can influence almost every sport to some degree (volleyball hits, boxing punches, jumping and throwing in track, etc).
These differences are important to understand when considering fairness in competitive sports. It’s crucial that we account for these differences to make sure women’s sports remain accessible, fair, and safe. That is what being sex smart means — to acknowledge the science and the immutable differences between males and transwomen.
Most people, who treat the topic of transwomen in sports while being sex smart, want to ensure that all people, including those of diverse gender identities, have access to the many positive aspects of physical activity. And, simultaneously, we want to ensure that females in sports or cisgender women (I like to add female to remind people of biological sex and the power of hormones!) are resourced, heard, and safe in their sports experience — specifically in competitive settings.
Sports have many social, emotional, and physical benefits. Everyone is encouraged and welcome to find a sport or movement they love — and someday female sports will be equally resourced!
By now, most humans understand the benefits and communities and schools know it is healthy for all to expand opportunities and access for all levels of sport. Sports offer a wide range of benefits, including improving physical and mental health, boosting self-confidence, and providing a sense of belonging. They help individuals develop important life skills like teamwork, leadership, and resilience. Everyone, regardless of gender or background, should be encouraged to participate in sports.
People with any identities must enjoy the same human rights afforded all citizens (housing, work, school) and must be protected against discrimination. However, when it comes to competitive sports, it is important to embrace both sex and gender while we work to ensure fairness and safety for all athletes in women’s sports. Transgender individuals must be welcomed fully in our society and be included in sports programs enjoying the full benefits of sport in welcoming spaces. We must find a balance that respects everyone’s rights while ensuring that competitions are fair and safe.
By separating events into male and female categories, we allow both groups to compete in a way that takes their biological differences into account, making the competition fair and safe. For centuries sex categorization for sports has been established to make competition fair and safe and accommodate humans with disability-related immutable differences. **
This is why there are separate events for men and women in the Olympics, and why the Paralympics exists for athletes with disabilities. This is why the Olympics used the cheek swab DNA test up until 2000 to determine the sex of competitors.
Female athletes shined bright for the USA at the Olympics thanks to 50 years of Title IX and lots of support from families, coaches, and communities. Title IX has been instrumental in providing females with equal opportunities to participate in sports. This has allowed female athletes to shine on the world stage, like the women who represent the USA in the Olympics. Title IX helped ensure that women have access to sports and yet most schools and colleges are still not in compliance with the law with regards to scholarships, promotion, recruiting, etc.
As we continue to push for equal opportunities, we must be mindful of the need to be “sex smart” in how we design sports categories and competition spaces. This means creating fair competitions that respect biological differences while supporting women to continue excelling in the sports they love. And yes, transwomen are women as that is their gender expression. As I wrote previously, there is a need for innovative solutions for the competitive inclusion of trans athletes.
In summary, while it’s essential to ensure that all athletes, including transgender athletes, are welcomed and included in sports, we must also be mindful of the biological differences between males and females. These differences are significant enough to affect fair competition in many sports, particularly those that require strength, speed, and power. By being “sex smart” and using accurate language, we can create an environment that is both inclusive and fair, ensuring that female athletes can compete on an equal footing, while also providing accommodations for transgender athletes in ways that respect both their rights and the fairness of competition.
And, if we continue to follow the new administration’s logic that ‘sex starts at conception’, then all of this will be moot because we would all be females! Most people aren’t aware that all humans are conceived as XX and the Y chromosome doesn’t form in a fetus for 6–7 weeks following conception. Onward we go.
*I first learned of the phrase “sex smart” from Dr. Doriane Coleman in her excellent book On Gender and Sex.
**Intersex is 1.7% of the population (about the same number as there are redheads!) and has its own set of expansive options. For the purpose of this document, I am focusing on 98% of male and female sex.
