Empowering Women: A Rallying Cry for Inclusion and Equality

Elections often revolve around stark choices, particularly when ideological differences color discussions. Media coverage tends to simplify these issues into binary perspectives, but the future of women’s sports transcends such categorizations. We need not choose between advocating for women’s opportunities and fostering inclusivity for individuals identifying as transgender; it’s possible to support both.

As a fitness instructor, I witness firsthand the myriad benefits that athletic engagement brings to people across demographics. From children to seniors, all individuals can enhance their lives through fitness and sports. Physical activity improves mental health, reduces feelings of isolation, and fosters better academic performance, among other benefits.

Ensuring athletic opportunities for everyone is essential. However, this inclusion should not come at the expense of fair competition. In Arizona, senior golfers can participate in competitive tournaments tailored to their skill set. Similarly, age restrictions in youth tournaments ensure that participants compete against peers at similar developmental stages. This practice is guided by a commitment to equitable competition.

The establishment of sex-specific leagues for women exists for similar reasons: it levels the playing field. Without separate leagues, women and girls would face significant disadvantages, given biological differences in physical capabilities. This reality underscores the need to maintain integrity in women’s athletic competitions.

Maintaining women-only competitions is not an act of exclusion; it is a measure to protect the fairness that Title IX aimed to enshrine over 50 years ago. Unfortunately, current policies seem to compromise these protections in favor of accommodating male athletes in women’s sports. This trend has led to women facing losses in competition, athletic placement, and recognition, discouraging them from participating in sports altogether.

Recent developments indicate a shift away from safeguarding women’s interests, leading to scenarios where women feel pressured to share private spaces with those who identify as female but were assigned male at birth. This compromises the comfort and safety of women, particularly of those who have experienced trauma.

This approach fails to embody true inclusion. Protecting women’s rights and privacy should not be seen as exclusionary but as a common-sense approach to fairness. It’s encouraging to see some candidates in Arizona championing the preservation of women’s sports and spaces. However, there is concern over the silence from others regarding their stance on these critical issues.

Inclusion can exist alongside respect for the distinctions that ensure equitable opportunities based on age, sex, and skill. It is crucial that we advocate for leaders who prioritize the rights and interests of women alongside broader inclusivity.

Alison Furno is a fitness instructor, volleyball coach, and a resident of Phoenix, Arizona. She serves as a member of Independent Women’s Network and co-hosts the show Into The Fire.