High school wrestler refuses to wrestle girls

[Gravekeeper]

You can't say it's sexual to wrestle women but not men and use sexuality as an excuse. It's just his way of making an excuse.

Yes, you can, actually. One of them he can wrestle in front of an audience without a raging boner. The other, not so much. If you're going to bring sexuality into, you have to bring orientation into it. They aren't mutually exclusive.

He was still in the tournament after saying he didn't want to wrestle girls. Tough shit. Either enter a tournament and wrestle anyone or don't enter at all. You shouldn't be able to pick who you want to go against.

He forfeited the match, which he's allowed to do regardless. The reason may be his beliefs. But he's still working within the rules of the tournament. I'm honestly kind of surprised the tournament is coed to begin at a high school level. We don't even work coed at an Olympic level. Especially not in full contact sports.

I still don't understand why you have such a problem with this. He took his knocks for his beliefs without a problem. Everything is within the tournament rules. So what's the problem?

[Greenday]

Because it's blatant sexism. I have issues with blatant sexism. He's also a hypocrite.

[Gravekeeper]

Because it's blatant sexism. I have issues with blatant sexism. He's also a hypocrite.

How is it blatant sexism? It struck me as a bit old fashion, but blatant sexism? I'm really trying to figure out why you're having a bigger problem with this then everyone actually involved in it. >.>

[Greenday]

Why would he be upset with it? He got to stay in the tournament.

How is it blatant sexism to saying wrestling women is sexual but not men? Really? How is it not? Was he just afraid of getting beat by a girl? It's like saying I can slap a guy's ass but not a woman's because it's only sexual if I do it to a woman.

[Ginger Tea]

Perhaps hes not keen on the idea of possibly hurting a woman during the bout more than any potential "bad touch" repocussions that she or his religious beliefs might raise.

I mean, who would be up for mixed boxing matches?
Yes women box, but we have been raised to be told that hitting a woman is bad and men that hit women are scum deserving of castration.
So who would box a woman if they were male?

[Cheshire]

Why would he be upset with it? He got to stay in the tournament.

How is it blatant sexism to saying wrestling women is sexual but not men? Really? How is it not? Was he just afraid of getting beat by a girl? It's like saying I can slap a guy's ass but not a woman's because it's only sexual if I do it to a woman.

Let's try this a different way, taking sex out of the picture.

The boy still would have been raised to treat women with respect (hopefully). Wrestling is rough, and I highly doubt that he would have been able to go at the same level of performance against a girl than he would have been able to against a man.

I'm honestly surprised they have boy/girl wrestling. If there are any sports that should be separated, that would be the first on the list. Along with boxing, as above.

The girls would be given an unfair advantage, mentally, in that style of competition. Not to mention it would likely be uncomfortable for both parties...

[Gravekeeper]

Perhaps hes not keen on the idea of possibly hurting a woman during the bout more than any potential "bad touch" repocussions that she or his religious beliefs might raise.

The boy still would have been raised to treat women with respect (hopefully). Wrestling is rough, and I highly doubt that he would have been able to go at the same level of performance against a girl than he would have been able to against a man.

These are the exact reasons he given in the article. Which is why I don't understand the blatant sexism accusation.

To quote:

""I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments. However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times," said Northrup. "As a matter of conscience and my faith I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner."

"We believe in the elevation and respect of woman and we don't think that wrestling a woman is the right thing to do. Body slamming and takedowns, that full contact sport is not how to do that."


I wouldn't be comfortable in a combat oriented sport vs a female either. Putting my hands on a female, especially with the express purpose of grappling with her against her will, is just....yeah, no. Can't do it. I was raised by a single mother, so no, not happening.

[blas87]

If guys and girls shouldn't wrestle together, don't put them together.

Personally, I'd pay big money to see a girl bodyslam a guy, but that's just me.

[Gravekeeper]

If guys and girls shouldn't wrestle together, don't put them together.

Personally, I'd pay big money to see a girl bodyslam a guy, but that's just me.

I'm really surprised they are together at a high school level. I imagine what happened is there just aren't enough female wrestlers in the area for their own seperate league. So they're combining them to give them a chance.

Also, that's what the WWE is for. ;p

[blas87]

You have a point. I don't think there were many, if any, girls that wrestled when I was back in school.

I think it was cuz the real awesome chicks were playing hockey

[Greenday]

The boy still would have been raised to treat women with respect (hopefully). Wrestling is rough, and I highly doubt that he would have been able to go at the same level of performance against a girl than he would have been able to against a man.

If he couldn't go at his full potential level just because he was a wrestling a girl, he deserves to get his ass handed to him.

Respecting women has nothing to do with anything. If I'm playing a contact sport and I'm against a woman, I'm going to try my hardest to kick her ass like I would anyone else's. She'll get the same effort I'd put into beating on anyone else.

[AdminAssistant]

She'll get the same effort I'd put into beating on anyone else.

Which, honestly, is closer to respect than what this kid was doing. If I were to sign up for a male-dominated sport, like wrestling, with the knowledge that I would be competing with guys, then I wouldn't want or expect the guys to treat me differently. I kinda get what Greenday is saying. The kids comments really amount to, "Women are delicate flowers and might get *hurt*!" Excuse me, but I'm no delicate flower and could probably kick your ass.

[crashhelmet]

They're wrestling together because there are only 2 girls in this tournament. If they told the girls "I'm sorry. You can't compete because we don't have enough girls for you to compete against." there would be a sexual discrimination suit against them. In the future, they may have more. Until then, it's coed.

I agree with his beliefs about being rough and physical with them. When I'm teaching or training with other women in my martial arts classes, I hate sparring against the women because I simply do not like the thought of a man hitting a woman. I have to forcefully remind myself that "they need to learn" and put more effort into my self-control than I normally would.

[hawkchick11]

I'm really surprised they are together at a high school level. I imagine what happened is there just aren't enough female wrestlers in the area for their own seperate league. So they're combining them to give them a chance.

The boy is from the town I live in. There are very few female wrestlers in Iowa, definitely not enough to have their own competition.

[Greenday]

I mean, who would be up for mixed boxing matches?
Yes women box, but we have been raised to be told that hitting a woman is bad and men that hit women are scum deserving of castration.
So who would box a woman if they were male?

It's a sport. These social norms do not apply. You fight to win no matter who your opponent is. You can't be the best if you refuse to face any and all opponents.