The St. James’ Post

As part of our Women's Sport Series, Katie and I discuss female leaders in sport both on and off the field of play in the article below!

The dangerous thing here really is the fact that being labeled as trans, especially against your will (and against what's even happening), is being invited to discrimination and violence. The discussion of biological sex in sports is really calling for a discussion of sexism and bioessentialism in sports. This match escalated this way essentially in the premise that a 'real' woman can't hit that hard. Note - Khelif is by no means undefeated, she's just a world class boxer. This isn't rocket science to understand that until you isolate and observe variables independently, (not based in your eyes and socialization) you actually don't know what's going on or the effects. As more trans athletes are banned, it will be harder to do actual studies on results in a competition setting, which is the heart of the whole issue. Everyone's body functions slightly differently from the person next to them, but does it produce a consistent, even predictable, advantage? An article on the current thinking about testosterone limits for women with DSD, though I wonder what would happen if you just tested all women athletes instead of cherry picking when someone doesn't like how someone looks. Not advocating for that, but if you need a standard, then operate by a standard, not here say or speculation. https://lnkd.in/gGCFYPrH

🔥 “I am woman, hear me score.” - Dave Pell, Managing Editor of the Internet My Mother and I have a tradition of listening to NPR when I drive her to various doctors' appointments. We’ve probably clocked hundreds of hours together. This week, we tuned into NPR’s interview of Sue Bird, the best point guard in women's basketball history. She is also a 13-time WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) All-Star with five Olympic gold medals. Two things caught my attention: 1. WNBA players tend to come from marginalized groups and over-index on black and gay players. This may (partly) explain why women's basketball gets less press coverage and has a smaller audience. In other words, racism and LGBTQ bias are leading factors 😡. 2. The top WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) player makes $234k a year, while the top National Basketball Association (NBA) player makes $51 million—that's 218 times his female counterpart 🤯 . Sound familiar? How do we help our female players get their 💰💰💰? It's simple. We need to tune into their games and bring our family and friends along for the ride. More viewers = more advertisers = higher payout for players. 12.3 million people tuned in to watch the NCAA Tournament doubleheader on Monday, many of them specifically to watch Caitlin Clark. Can we turn this moment into a movement? #payequity #womenssports

More good news for #womenssports and #womenssoccer!

Motivate occasionally….Inspire Daily. The best version of leadership and character building lessons is “Lead by example.” The video here is one such example….!!

power of mind...

We all deserve the right to move, play sport or be physically active however we choose to be. Nobody must feel excluded or forgotten as we strive for a happier, healthier, more active nation. Read the Activity Alliance’s manifesto for change - Fight for fairness: Disabled people’s right to sport and physical activity here - https://ow.ly/5prm50Rl0Qa

Check out my latest article which takes a look at some of the storylines following the conclusion of both the Men's and Women's side of the March Madness Tournament.

https://lnkd.in/dCqQkTXg A year in the lives of six members of the Minnesota Roller Derby, as they compete to win the Hydra, the top international prize of the sport. When the star of the team gets injured, will her teammates find their own power? MINNESOTA MEAN is a human drama about the pounding heart of roller derby: powerful, self-sufficient women. It’s a vital and relevant story of triumph, loss, strength, determination, and a search for balance between individuality and community. How do women who pride themselves on their hard-won independence thrive in a sport that requires them to rely on a team? How do they meet the full-time demands of the sport without sacrificing their own dreams for life outside the rink? A meditation on strength: in our bodies, our hearts, our minds, and our friendships.