Males vs Females in Competition

[guywithashovel]

What do you think of games that are played as so-called "Battles of the Sexes." Examples include trivia games, softball games, etc. where the guys take on the girls.

This may not be a topic that many people think about, but I actually have been giving this some thought lately. On another message board I go to, someone mentioned that he was planning a softball game for a picnic that was taking place in a few weeks, and someone suggested that the game be "guys vs girls." Well, someone else thought that was a bad idea because (paraphrasing what this person said) such games encourage sexism and cause tension amongst couples.


Personally, as long as it is a game that will be a pretty even match for both sexes (i.e. it's not something that men or women tend to be more naturally good at), I actually think these types of games are pretty neat. The reason I think this is because when you play a game that pits the guys against the girls, it brings out a level of competition that is not seen anywhere else. One one hand, the guys will work hard to not lose because, naturally, they don't want to lose to the girls. But on the other side of the coin, the girls will be working equally hard to win because they want to show the guys that they can beat them. (This tends to be my observation, anyway)


Also, I was a little unsure about what category to put this in. It was a toss-up between this section and the Clash of Cultures section. Oh well. I'm sure the mods will relocate it if they see a need to.

[Depot Denizen]

Eh, I don't really know. I go bowling with my girlfriend frequently and we're both pretty competitive with each other. She's usually better at it than I am.

[MystyGlyttyr]

I've always kinda had these as my pet issues. I've said before...in high school, there were the girls and there were the guys, and I just happened to be one of the guys. It wasn't some big thing we thought about, it just was. It wasn't until after I got out of school that the whole "You're a girl" thing really kicked in.

I've personally always sort of wished that all things were completely co-ed. No WNBA or anything, just a strict NBA and if you're a woman who wants to play, then you gotta be good enough. Some people said that's not fair to women, and I could see that (also I don't personally agree with it, because I feel like you CAN work to be good enough if it's something you really want, but that's IMHO), so then I just thought that having three separate leagues...one male, one female, and one co-ed, might be the way to go, so everyone can have their comfort zone. And people still had issues with THAT. I don't completely understand why.

I don't have any issue with boys vs. girls so long as they're all good with it. But you're right in that it does seem to get really competitive because of all the stigmas and whatnot about losing to a girl. Personally, I hate to lose to a girl and I AM a girl, LOL. And yet because of that, I also know how much I want to be on equal with the guys and work my butt off to be there.

I kinda forgot where I was going with this, but I think I said what I was trying to...

[Evandril]

I've personally always sort of wished that all things were completely co-ed. No WNBA or anything, just a strict NBA and if you're a woman who wants to play, then you gotta be good enough. Some people said that's not fair to women, and I could see that (also I don't personally agree with it, because I feel like you CAN work to be good enough if it's something you really want, but that's IMHO), so then I just thought that having three separate leagues...one male, one female, and one co-ed, might be the way to go, so everyone can have their comfort zone. And people still had issues with THAT. I don't completely understand why.

They've had a couple matches between teams from the NBA and the WNBA...and it's no contest. Professional athletes tend to be some of the few that push their fitness far enough that the male/female differences actually come into play. I do not believe there is any rule that prevents women from playing in the NBA, though I could be wrong. From my experience, any co-ed professional basketball or football team will be dominated by men, with very few, if any, women playing, unless required by the rules. Other sports will have different results...but in general, where size matters...they will be in the minority.

As far as recreational co-ed competitions, the only real 'advantage' guys will have is it will be more common for a guy to be practiced at various sports. If the competitions are varied, and kept friendly, I don't see a problem with 'em. I'd suggest finding out ahead of time if there's anything particular people would like or dislike, and tailor it from there.

[anriana]

My coworker had a party with some silly game designed for a battle of the sexes where all the men got asked questions about shopping and make-up and all the women got asked questions about sports and cars. The board games just seem to exist to propagate gender roles.

I've personally always sort of wished that all things were completely co-ed. No WNBA or anything, just a strict NBA and if you're a woman who wants to play, then you gotta be good enough. Some people said that's not fair to women, and I could see that (also I don't personally agree with it, because I feel like you CAN work to be good enough if it's something you really want, but that's IMHO), so then I just thought that having three separate leagues...one male, one female, and one co-ed, might be the way to go, so everyone can have their comfort zone. And people still had issues with THAT. I don't completely understand why.

Sort of off-topic, but your suggestion might become reality sometime in the future with the WBNA losing so much money.

[DesignFox]

In my gym classes, I always much preferred to play with the boys. It was great that the boys who knew me, knew I could and would PLAY. When we played against boys who didn't know me, the other team would ALWAYS underestimate me (I'm barely 5 ft tall now and little). It was great to watch their expressions when I'd catch that fly ball or manage to score, or block the shot if I was a goalie. They just never covered me thinking I wouldn't bother or couldn't handle it.

As a matter of fact, I hated playing with the girls in High School because they just wouldn't play. Not a one of them. I was the only girl ALLOWED to play with the boys, because it just wasn't a challenge for me otherwise (and the teacher made sure to ask the boys permission first- then offered to let me switch and play with them).

Might be neat to see some co-ed team games, but the nature of our society is such that I doubt it will happen anytime soon.

As for girls vs. boys. Eh. That's fun sometimes. But only if everyone you get to play is really into it and at the same time really good sports about it. (I hate being forced to play with girlie girls, and I don't like when people get all bent out of shape if the girls win, or whatever silly thing it is they get upset about.)

Also- that stupid role switching game- I've played it before. It's really dumb. Unless you are really stereotypically gender oriented- no one understands the questions. LOL

[tabbyblack13]

The thing is that there are differences in gender based in evolution. I believe that having the professional teams separated into based helps gives a chance to some players who wouldn't have a chance others. If it is a casual game among friends then its fun to do coed. Especially if you are a woman playing against a man that is acting all macho. As for the stereotype game I don't think it is big deal. It can be fun if you play with the right people. I had my sorority sister answer correctly on questions about cigars and vehicles. She had fun rubbing it in.

[Seshat]

Regarding professional grade teams: it's a matter of simple physics. The different lengths and arrangements of the bones provide (or deny) mechanical advantage.

If everything else - including will to succeed - is equal, but the bone structure difference remains, the male will always have greater upper body strength and a longer stride, the female will always have greater lower body strength but a shorter stride. Add in gender differences in ligament strength and placement, and females have greater flexibility.

(Note: that's presuming everything else is identical - as in, imagine perfectly healthy identical twins with one tiny little difference - X or Y chromosome.)

So on a professional level, there will always be sports where the top players are male, and sports where the top players are female. Which is which will depend on the relative advantage within the sport of upper or lower body strength, stride or flexibility.

On the other hand, there are sports where each body type (slender, solid, male, female, etc) can make use of the advantages they have, and learn to reduce the effect of the places other people have an advantage. Many forms of fighting are like this.


On the main topic, however... I dunno. I have mixed feelings about it. I think it depends on how stereotyped the 'sides' are.

[Fashion Lad!]

I'm perfectly fine with a battle of the sexes. My girlfriend still thinks she'll beat me at trivia. I told her she wouldn't, then she said she'd cheat. And, her idea of cheating is something I quite enjoy.

It's all in fun.

[powerboy]

When I was dating one of my ex's. When ever we were with our friends, we would have battle of the sexes: Billiards edition. And also, when we went bowling, we would have battle of the sexes. But then again, it was for fun

[Greenday]

I was going to say I think battle of the sexes in sports is generally unfair as males have the advantage physically speaking, but I've been coaching my dorm's powderpuff football team (my college is having one team from each dorm then there is a tournament) and some of these girls are ridiculously atheletic. And some hit very hard. My poor chest is bruised.

[Jester]

In the Battle of the Sexes I have to say that at the top level of sports (professional and collegiate) it is generally good to separate the sexes because, frankly, in too many sports men will have the physical advantage. It is biology.

However, for the rest of us humans, why the hell not?

I work with C. C is a hottie. C is also one of the most athletic people I've ever met, having gone to college on an athletic scholarship. During softball practice she might be doing backflips or hand springs in the outfield. Lord knows that if we got in the pool, she would clean the place up with me. Well, I suck at swimming, but put her against a guy, I am betting on her every time. Hell, the other day she was drunkenly leg-wrestling with my male coworker outside of a bar, and though he weighs almost twice what she does, he had to struggle to beat her.

I also work with A. A is a hottie in a different way. She is also much larger than me, as she does bodybuidling. She WILL kick your ass. Fucking with her is a bad idea. "She...will....crush you."

Years ago, my friend J suggested we play pool. I figured in my young naive male brain that I would kick her ass. However, I forgot the salient fact that she had grown up in her father's bar. The pool games weren't even close. She destroyed me.

My friend M was a rather small, petite girl. Very cute. She wanted to play me air hockey. No problem, right? Wrong. The woman was vicious. She kicked my ass.

I have gone cycling with men and women, and when they are serious about it, I can ride with either sex. Doesn't matter to me. (Though I prefer the view of the female cyclists, of course.)

Trivia is a mental game, not an athletic endeavor. Any guy that thinks he is automatically better than a woman at trivia just because of the difference in gender is a fucking idiot. I rock at trivia, but not because I have a penis. I rock at it because I have a mind for trivia, pure and simple. My friend Little Red is pretty damn good at it too, and we make a killer trivia team. Little Red is a chick. Photo Dude is a dude. PD is not that good at trivia that does not involve video games. Guess which of the two I prefer partnering with for trivia games?

Women are defying what were once defined gender roles in all walks of life, and I say rock the hell on! It is nice to see that not as many guys are stereotypical in their thinking as even twenty years ago. Though of course there are still a lot of knuckleheads and neanderthals that think "chicks can't beat me" or that "cooking is women's work" or some equally stupid shit. I like cooking. Doesn't make me less of a man, just like C or A kicking your ass doesn't make the neanderthal less of a man. Oh, wait.....it does.

(Note: that's presuming everything else is identical - as in, imagine perfectly healthy identical twins with one tiny little difference - X or Y chromosome.)

I would like to point out that boy/girl twins can't be identical. I know you were using a hypothetical, of course, but just had to comment.

[AFPheonix]

I'm in a sport where males and females can compete on a level playing field. Both in the saddle and under it

[Jester]

I'm in a sport where males and females can compete on a level playing field. Both in the saddle and under it

Yes and no. The humans can compete on a level playing field in equestrian sports, and I believe they should. In horse racing, for example, the few female jockeys that are out there DO compete directly with the males, and a few of them have had great success.

But (at least in racing), the males BENEATH the saddle are larger and stronger than the females, and thus tend to dominate them. Yes, there is the occasional filly that comes along that can compete with the males, but overall, horse racing is dominated by stallions.

Yes, I very much WAS rooting for Eight Belles in last year's Derby. What happened to her was a damn shame!

[AFPheonix]

I don't race horses though, I ride Western Pleasure and amateur all around events like Trail and Equitation