That’s my disapproving face.
I’m teaching sports ethics this fall and I’m starting to think about aspects of athletic training and events that strike me as unfair. I’m putting on my professional disapproving face. Here’s some examples, the first two from sporting events in my own life:
- Competitive soccer teams using our recreational league as their practise games. Don’t be cheap people. Just rent space for practise if you need to. See my post on women’s soccer and the norms of competition.
- Cycling events that have radically different distances for women. The Centurion series introduced a women’s event. Great, I thought. I love riding in women only events. But it turns out the women just ride 25 km. See my post on why I think that just isn’t fair.
- Sports costumes that rely on traditional gender norms with no choice. They’re different from running skirts because they’re part of an official required uniform. See Fit and Feminist’s discussion of skirts and women’s boxing.
What are some examples of unfairness in sports that strike you, either because they’re really unfair or because they hit close to home?
