Are Males better athletes than Female Ones?

Clarissa Shields, 2012 Olympic Gp;d Medalist in Boxing

"...the idea that equality means sameness is precisely the argument/excuse for systems of exploitation and oppression like sexism and racism." 

Dear friends, 

One hot summer day, about 21 years ago, while coaching all three of now grown children at a regional Junior Olympics track & field championship meet, I remember standing next to a middle-aged European American guy who boasted, “I’d like to see one of those girls get down on the line with Carl Lewis”. I looked at him with astonishment, then quickly replied, “Well, actually, YOU can’t beat either Carl Lewis or any of those girls in a race – nor can most men…In fact, my 12 years-old daughter will smoke you in a race, right now.” 

The fellow’s mouth dropped open. Apparently, he was used to getting some sort of silly male “bonding”, when he made such inane remarks.

Look. Someone like Lisa Leslie can beat just about anybody, male or female, pro, amateur, or street - in a game of basketball. Okay? Moreover, please do not make a claim to someone else’s ability, as if it belongs to you. That type of behavior reminds me of a guy who walks down the street with a growling dog on a leash, while maintaining a scowl on his own face, as if he is a mean, bad dude. In other words, he is playing off of the dog’s ferocity, as if that disposition is natural (the mean face) to him. However, in reality, if you see that same cat without the dog, his whole personality is different. Right? That is, when he's by himself without the dog he's just a happy-go- lucky kind of guy.

The argument that men are stronger, or faster, or whatever, than women is silly, since people are not talking insects. That is, we perform to whatever level, in various activities, based upon the interactions/experiences that we as individuals have with other people and things. Otherwise, without such interactions, one would not even be able to speak a language, much less communicate his or her inner feelings, or reveal his or her powers - and weaknessesin either a work or sports venue, for example.

Finally, both fathers and mothers must teach their daughters, at a very young age, that they are equals of ALL people, regardless of societal constructs like “gender” and “race”. However, when I say “equal”, I do not mean “same”. These two concepts are often intermingled, in order to make it appear as if they have some similar qualities. They do not. As a matter of fact, the idea that equality means sameness is precisely the argument/excuse for systems of exploitation and oppression like sexism and racism. After all, having two equal size slices of pie is completely different than two individuals having equal human rights. Peace.

G. Djata Bumpus