Fifty years ago, Title IX was passed, providing women and girls with opportunities in athletics that had previously been unavailable to them. This legislation has led to a flourishing youth sports ecosystem for girls, giving them the chance to develop skills necessary for success in the workplace. Participation in sports has been found to be the most straightforward path to business success for female executives. As former collegiate swimmers, the authors understand the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices required to excel in athletics. Despite the opportunities afforded to them by Title IX, they are concerned about the current threats to women’s athletic opportunities, particularly regarding the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports teams.
The Biden administration has proposed new rules that would allow transgender athletes to compete on teams that align with their gender identity, potentially undermining the fairness of competition and opportunities for female athletes. The authors express concern that telling a female athlete she did not make the team because a male body is on the roster is fundamentally unfair. They point out the irony of the Democratic party, which historically advanced opportunities for women, now working to undermine these benefits in the name of inclusion. The authors recount their personal experiences of competing against a male transgender swimmer, highlighting the challenges faced by female athletes in maintaining the integrity of women’s sports.
The authors advocate for protecting women’s sports and maintaining the integrity of competition by opposing the inclusion of biological men in women’s sports. They emphasize the importance of fairness of opportunity and the need to uphold Title IX, which was passed to address discrimination and provide equal opportunities for women in athletics. They call for action to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex in sports, citing the dangers of allowing male athletes to compete in women’s sports. The authors express their commitment to fighting for the rights of young girls to have the same opportunities they were given through Title IX.
Riley Gaines, an ambassador for the Independent Women’s Forum and former collegiate swimmer, and Paula Scanlan, former swimmer and ambassador with the Independent Women’s Forum, share their concerns about the threats to women’s sports in light of proposed changes to Title IX. They highlight the need to protect the opportunities afforded to women and girls in athletics and prevent discrimination based on sex. The authors share their personal experiences and call on others to take action to preserve the integrity of women’s sports and ensure equal opportunities for female athletes. Their advocacy is driven by a desire to protect the legacy of Title IX and ensure that future generations of women have the same opportunities they did.
