Coming home from the city, and listening to the ABC (trying to avoid those tedious ads.) on the car radio, they were discussing women who engaged in hitherto 'male only' activities. The two sports under debate, were boxing and the professional surfing circuit, with a lady guest, both of them quite prominent, representing each of the two sports.

I know absolutely nothing about the professional surfing circuit. And boxing, aka 'the sweet science', in my opinion I don't believe it's an activity in which women should participate. Please understand, I didn't say they can't ? I merely said the shouldn't or it's inappropriate, is all ? If we were to extrapolate their 'right' to undertake A N Y sport whatsoever - how about a female Matador, an activity, pastime, or sport closely followed by millions in Spain and Mexico ?

We have some female surf champions in the family. Women are very welcome in surf lifesaving. They have to save the day for the limp metrosexuals that feminist-led society is raising in droves.

Boxing and body contact.
I really don't care if Bogan women give one another a belting for payment. In the ring they have to obey the rules and they do get paid for what they are doing in their private time anyhow.

There can be extra insurance premiums and insurance considerations where women are concerned. To deal with the 'My sport affected my pregnancy' claims, for instance. Netball's female administrators have been challenged for their policy of avoiding pregnant women in competition.

Let the market rule and make people responsible for their own decisions. No sense in trying to assist people to come to a reasonable compromise in a country where political correctness rules, as in Australia.

The ABC would be looking for some 'sexism' to egg-beat on a slow news day, wouldn't they? No way they would be about news or contributing in a positive way.

What in the world is Australia doing about the redundant ABC and SBS? Can't someone relieve the weary taxpayer of one of them? Wasn't there a proposal from the SBS to take over the ABC? The SBS has a well-developed funding system too that relieves the taxpayer of some pain. Not so the ABC :(

o sung wu,
I don't think a real woman or a sensible man for that matter would ever be drawn to such activities.
Why don't all these "tough" people help fight terrorism instead of engaging in such mindless behaviour. Perhaps they're not THAT tough after all.

Hi o sung wu,

This is a first for me, I’ve never entered such debates and I’m not sure I’m equipped to comment but I will try.

I have a wife, two daughters and four granddaughters, even the cat is a female, so I’ve resorted to wearing a frock around the house to avoid persecution.

We have always accepted that as parents we have a joint relationship with each child. There is never space between us for anyone to exploit. We also accept that as individuals we each have (singular, person to person) relationship with each child however, on all issues that relate to us as parents, no decisions are ever made that do not involve discussion and agreement between us.

If any of our family females expressed a wish to do anything in their lives, like boxing, we would have no comment unless we were asked. It is none of our business. We might express concern in relation to health, safety or wellbeing. If there were any concerns we would express them but only if invited. Because of our attitude they normally do, which is very complimentary.

So for anyone else in the world to make decisions about what our female family members may or may not do with their lives is to us, a rude, arrogant, interfering and totally unwarranted intrusion into our/their business, we would both fight tooth and nail for their rights to do as they please within the law.

Not because the intruders are either right or wrong, we don’t seek to judge them, but because it is absolutely non of their freaking business.

What gives anyone the right to determine what other people do within the law? Who says this or that should be male only, or that something is inappropriate and just who is trying to determine what rights women have?

Some might say that females should not be drawn to such activities, it has nothing to do with them because such people are embracing the worst form of sexism.

Our society is riddled with those who know better then us

This is a hard question O Sung Wu.
While I would be the first to say that women should be allowed to do any activity they are legally able to do, I am loath to agree with women participating in boxing.
Surfing, yes, boxing no.

However, I am also against men participating in the 'sport' of boxing.
It is an archaic, violent sport, that everyone knows the participants will end up getting hurt.
To actually condone a sport where people belt each other in the head, with the specific aim of rendering them unconscious by a blow to the head, is in my mind, criminal.

Every day I'm convinced more and more why I'm glad I never went to university. I too could write 350 words on why I should stick my nose in other peoples business!

If two woman or two men want to get in a ring and bash each others brains out, what's it to anyone else?