Here in the United States, Title IX, enacted in 1972, defined sports as education. That opened the door for a wide-ranging menu of choices for girls and women from elementary school to college to feel the joy of winning and the emptiness of defeat.
Many learned how to compete, and they learned that if they worked hard enough, they could win! Nearly five decades later, these competitive women are now found in leadership and decision-making positions in education, medicine, government, commerce, industry and professional sports, all the while nurturing the next generation. As a result, today’s women have enriched our nation and our world in untold ways.
Recently, transgender individuals have threatened the progress that girls and women have made. Biological males, larger, stronger and faster, are now able to compete in women’s sports. Female athletes who have broken school and collegiate records are seeing their athletic careers, scholarships and future prospects diminished as they are no longer winners. Worse yet, the joy of winning is often gone, and along with it comes the attitude of “what’s the use in striving?”
If this is allowed to persist, many of the gains that women have made as a result of competing on an equal playing field will be lost. More to the point — it’s just not fair treatment for half our population. Numerous states have now banned biological males from women’s sports. Pennsylvania needs to join them.
The Pennsylvania Legislature needs to prevent unfair competition in girls’ and women’s sports at all levels.
Maury Fey
Murrysville