The National Organization for Women needs to change its name
Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is a contributor for the Washington Examiner, a mother in Fairfax County, Virginia, an author, a member of the Coalition for TJ, and the Fairfax chapter leader of the Independent Women’s Network. This piece originally appeared on Washington Examiner.
Last week, the National Organization for Women objected to women’s sports being reserved for females only. NOW needs to change its name — maybe from NOW to the National Organization for Misogyny, because it definitely does not represent women any longer.
Not only is the organization advocating males in women’s sports, it is trying to silence critics with absurd name-calling. They claim that opposing the participation of males in women’s sports is “white supremacist patriarchy at work.”
Someone needs to get that internet keyboard warrior away from the computer.
It is unclear how race entered the equation. In fact, in a Pew Research Center survey, black respondents were more likely than white respondents to agree with the statement that gender is determined by sex at birth. And it seems that whoever is handling the social media account for NOW, excuse me, NOM, doesn’t understand what “patriarchy” means.
I am disappointed in NOW, an organization that I once supported. When notions of feminism meant equal rights for the two sexes, I referred to myself as a feminist. You might have noticed those inclinations by my hyphenated last name.
Betty Friedan’s book, The Feminine Mystique, made an impact on my thinking as I came of age and still sits on my bookshelf. I wonder what Friedan, one of the founders of NOW, would think about her organization’s support of this blatant discrimination against females if she were alive today. Friedan and others in her organization were at the front lines of advocating Title IX only to have it gutted by the misogynists who took over.
On the other hand, Title IX has an ally in Caitlyn Jenner, who well understands what the differences between the biological sexes mean for athletic competition. Jenner, who is transgender, has been a vocal proponent of keeping women’s sports female.
It is remarkable that anyone, particularly members of NOW, would support the idea that males should compete in women’s sports. Maybe it is just out of sheer ignorance. Often, the most vocal proponents of this insanity look like they have never competed in any sports, ever. From experience, I recommend that proponents of males in women’s sports start learning jiu-jitsu. Spar with both a male and a female of your weight for a quick lesson in fairness.
It seems to me that males who are subpar athletes might feel that they have a better shot at winning when they are competing against females, who are comparatively biologically disadvantaged in size, speed, and strength. You only need to look at the male athletes, such as collegiate swimmer Lia Thomas, who once competed against men before transitioning to compete against women. Males, Thomas included, obviously fare much better in women’s sports than in men’s sports.
The athletic differences between the sexes are notable from an early age. Recently, I sat on the sidelines of a soccer scrimmage where 12-year-old boys competed against 14-year-old girls. The two teams were ranked at similar levels within their respective leagues. Already, the strength and speed difference gave the younger boys the advantage. And to the great disappointment of the girls, the boys’ team won.
Aside from the obvious fairness problems of males competing in women’s sports, the resulting injuries are undeniable. There are so many to point out and likely many more that have gone unreported. For example, a male’s spike in a North Carolina girl’s high school volleyball game resulted in Payton McNabb’s concussion, neck injury, impaired vision, and partial paralysis. In an MMA fight, a male fractured a female’s skull. Tamikka Brents had a concussion and required seven staples in her head as a result. Is this what equity and fairness look like to the Left?
Finally, there is the locker room issue. Real feminists do not support males in women’s private spaces. Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines has detailed her experience as an NCAA athlete being forced to change in a locker room with a large male, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
So, to the National Organization for Women, I conclude with this: if you are going to support obvious sexism, at least change your name.
