ABSTRACT
The discussion of women and sport focuses on a classic essay written by Jane English, “Sex Equality in Sports.” She argues that we need to understand more general ideas about equality in order to understand sex equality in sports. The issue is complicated because we usually assume that persons, regardless of sex, are equal
in capabilities and talents, yet in sports being female may constitute a physiological disadvantage. Her essay occasions a number of important questions. Skylar wonders whether women should want equality in sports. If women are physiologically disadvantaged in many sports, they may be viewed as inferior athletes competing in inferior sports. Skylar suggests that there is a male bias in the concept of sport and sports glorify masculine traits. There is a brief discussion of female athletes confronting homophobic attitudes in sport. Both Pat and J. K. insist that fundamental attitudes must be changed. Despite Skylar’s concerns, it’s clear that opportunities and levels of participation have been greatly expanded, and women (as well as men) have been and continue to be passionate about gender equity in sports. The discussion returns to English’s essay. The characters discuss three accounts of equal opportunity: nondiscrimination, equal chances (equal probabilities), and proportional attainments for the major social groups. Nondiscrimination (sex blindness) would reduce opportunities for female participation, although we should work towards more integration of males and females in sports in which females aren’t physiologically disadvantaged. Females should have equal chances to attain the basic benefits that sports offer to participants. English argues that the third account of equal opportunity, proportional attainments for the major social groups, should apply to scarce benefits of sports, but her argument depends on a questionable appeal to the self-respect of all women. English offers suggestions about other ways to structure sports in order to give females equal opportunity to achieve basic benefits. We can also develop new sports and modify older sports. Finally, J. K. summarizes possible responses to the central issues. What is gender equity? What would sex equality look like in sports?
