Should women be allowed to play on teams with men?

[BennyD]

5 women have entered formula 1 events though only 2 have started a race. Many rally drivers, Pat Moss probably the most famous, though Anne Hall once took a friend of mine round a track when in her late 70s scared the crap out of him.

Don’t forget Michelle Mouton who was pretty bloody good at rallying in the 80s and 90s.

[Dy1geo]

With the money increasing in the women’s game the issue will be should a man identifying them self as a female be allowed to play in women’s football.

[Giftonsnoidea]

If your deemed good enough it shouldn’t matter what’s between your legs or on your chest, let it be decided on merit.

[AfloatinClaret]

40+ years ago one of the village cricket teams in our area included a 13 or 14 year old girl in their side, the idea being greeted with much amusement. Sadly she only managed two or three games before the other clubs in the league stopped laughing and voted to ban her, whilst assuring everyone that her having taken a heap of wickets and scored a heap of runs hadn't been a consideration in their decision; she did go on to play for the England Ladies CC.

[AfloatinClaret]

Regarding the original question: Definitely not! Indeed they shouldn't be allowed to play the likes of football, rugby, etc. at all, but instead be restricted to 'proper' women's sports like beach volley-ball, mud-wrestling and foxy-boxing.

[arise_sir_charge]

A few posts referencing cricket in this thread and the usual "I don't like cricket" nonsense from Claptrappers.

Women can play in mens cricket if they are good enough. Kate Cross who was a leading bowler for England played for Heywood but didn't really pull up any trees. Alex Hartley has played for Clitheroe second team quite a bit. They will never likely be good enough for the elite mens game purely due to not being physically strong enough.

Lowerhouse have a couple of girls now who could easily end up in the first team in a few years if they keep progressing. Having said that though, there is far more money in playing for Lancs and England than there is for Lowerhouse so it's possible they will be doing that before the first team opportunities come along.

[timshorts]

Women can play in County league volleyball and do.

Danica Patrick is probably the most recent top level woman driver having retired recently from indy car nascar type stuff. Got a pole position once.

But millie bright would be a liability in the conference North. She's presumably the second best central defender we have given that Phil neville kept picking her in the world cup. That said, I wouldn't mind seeing Danielle van der donk playing for Boston united. She'd probably be pushed out wide, but her skill levels and vision are more than sufficient.

[kritichris]

Ana Carrasco won the 2018 World Supersport 300 championship against all the boys. On small bikes I'm surprised there aren't more women because their smaller size gives them a power/weight ratio advantage Now football is a different ball game.

[Vegas Claret]

they would fall over less for starters

[DCWat]

Isn’t it at around 12 or 13 that mixed football has to stop? I can see the sense in that rule, if it’s still in place.

Women’s football has some pretty skilful players, though I’d still argue that many of the attackers are made to look better by how bad female goalkeepers are.

I used to sit and watch women’s football in a very critical way, but the best way to view it is as a game all of its own, not comparing it to men’s football.

I’m all for women playing any sport, but not mixed for sports where physicality plays a big part. Darts, motor racing etc. why the hell not.

[dsr]

Football - no. The basic reason, which still stands, is that they are too lightweight and will get hurt. Same in rugby.

Non-contact sports like cricket - no problem. Sports like darts, anything on horseback except perhaps polo, croquet, motor racing, snooker, anything where for whatever reason strength makes significantly less difference, can be open.

Basically as it stands now we have a top level in every sport. Without exception. In some cases like football it is strictly men only, at the next level like darts and cricket it is essentially men only but a woman who is good enough is allowed in the top level game, and in others like horse racing it is open without restriction. And in the fully open sports there is no need for a women only equivalent; in the men only or mostly men's sports, there needs to be a women-only section so that women can reach top level within their restrictions.

All sports are full of versions of the game for people who, for whatever reason, cannot reach the top level. Look at football. The World Cup is the pinnacle. But it's restricted to men only; they have separate competitions for women, for children, for seniors, for disabled, and now for people who can't even run. If women become as good as men at darts, there will be no need for a women's darts championship. In equestrian sports strength is much less relatively important (no rider, male or female, is stronger than the horse) so it's open already. In football, strength is essential so women can't play.

[AndrewJB]

Some patronising comments.

For those saying women can’t handle it, then surely if they can they should be given the chance. The question after all is; “should women be allowed?”

[NottsClaret]

Some patronising comments.

The most patronising idea is that women are sitting around waiting for men’s permission. They’re already out there enjoying women’s football in huge numbers.

Here we’ve just got a load of men deciding if they should be ‘allowed’ to do something they’ve shown no desire to do. A familiar tale for many no doubt.

[ChrisG]

A few posts referencing cricket in this thread and the usual "I don't like cricket" nonsense from Claptrappers.

Women can play in mens cricket if they are good enough. Kate Cross who was a leading bowler for England played for Heywood but didn't really pull up any trees. Alex Hartley has played for Clitheroe second team quite a bit. They will never likely be good enough for the elite mens game purely due to not being physically strong enough.

Lowerhouse have a couple of girls now who could easily end up in the first team in a few years if they keep progressing. Having said that though, there is far more money in playing for Lancs and England than there is for Lowerhouse so it's possible they will be doing that before the first team opportunities come along.

On a similar note, I reckon Sarah Taylor would do a better job behind the stumps than Buttler or Bairstow have done recently. Perhaps not so good with the bat mind, but her keeping is incredible.

[pushpinpussy]

The most patronising idea is that women are sitting around waiting for men’s permission. They’re already out there enjoying women’s football in huge numbers.

Here we’ve just got a load of men deciding if they should be ‘allowed’ to do something they’ve shown no desire to do. A familiar tale for many no doubt.

Im not sure you have understood the question. Now that is patronising.

[NottsClaret]

Im not sure you have understood the question. Now that is patronising.

I understood the question. Didn't realise you were looking for a simple Yes/No answer. Maybe run a poll next time.

[tim_noone]

Now Now Ladies......

[Inchy]

I have watched the women’s World Cup more than one occasion. In my opinion the standard compared to the men’s game is utterly dreadful. Far too slow and they rarely hit the ball with any pace. The goalkeeping is really shocking.

That’s at the elite level. Unless things massively change no women will be able to compete with the men’s game


The u15 kids male team of FC Dallas beat the US women’s national team, an elite female team

[AlargeClaret]

40+ years ago one of the village cricket teams in our area included a 13 or 14 year old girl in their side, the idea being greeted with much amusement. Sadly she only managed two or three games before the other clubs in the league stopped laughing and voted to ban her, whilst assuring everyone that her having taken a heap of wickets and scored a heap of runs hadn't been a consideration in their decision; she did go on to play for the England Ladies CC.

Whether intentional or not ,you’ve hit the nail on the head . Someone good enough to go to play for England would do perfectly ok at village cricket level and certainly shock a few pot bellied beer soaked slobs for sure .

[Erasmus]

I actually played in a league in the USA that had mixed teams of men and women, six and five. The rule was that men couldn't tackle women unless they were in the penalty box they were attacking. Some of the women were pretty decent and put in fairly hefty tackles on the men. Overall, it wasn't very good really, but it was impossible to find a proper league up where I was living.