As long as women don't expect to have their pie and eat it too. So obvious in so many ways. But not all women, some have honour as do some men, and a more nuanced appreciation of the differences between the sexes and (they) routinely bless others with acts of politeness and kindness. Sure makes the world go round.

No, not when it comes to Jelly Wrestling!

Dear Danielle,

On average, men are stronger, faster, and heavier
than women, so there are some sports, like football,
in which most women will be unable to compete on
equal terms with most men. In other events that require
long-term physical endurance, trained women may prove
superior, for they are able to convert body fat to energy
for longer periods than most men. This is especially true
of long-distance swimming, which is becoming a predominantly
female sport (of fity miles or more).

I agree - boxing is not a sport that I would like to
see anyone take part in (male or female). However, we have to
recognise that social class strongly affects the individual's
access to, and preference for, particular sports - whether as
a participant or as a spectator.

Those with money for
example, can take part in such expensive sports as -
yachting and polo. They can afford sports the more
expensive sports -
like - tennis, golf, skiing, or skuba
diving.

The working class however, may be able to participate
only in such sports as bowling, pool, basketball, volleyball,
or boxing. And these class biases toward particular sports
tend to be passed on from one generation to the next.

A child whose parents belong to a country or private club,
is likely to develop an interest in golf, tennis, or yachting -
and to develop the necessary skills. A child who grows up
in an inner city slum is more likely to turn to basketball,
a game that needs little more in the way of facilities than
a strip of asphalt and a backboard and hoop.

Members of different social classes also tend to have different
tastes as spectators. Some people are more
likely to view college sports or such genteel games as
golf and tennis. Others will gravitate towards
games that offer more daring, strength, and even violence,
such as boxing and demolition derbies.

Of course I hesitate about making these generalisations
because there are always exceptions to each situation.

Hi there FOXY...

Once more you've come up trumps ! A very well presented summation on the differing contrast you've drawn between men and women engaging in sports. Your inclusion of the socio-economic disparities does create some serious thought too I believe. As there're some 'sports' that very few of us could ever hope to participate in, purely because of the amount of money required to even enter.

Motor racing (my deference to HASBEEN should be noted), equestrian pursuits (again, I defer to HASBEEN) and Olympic small bore shooting, to name but three. Enormous funds are necessary to actively pursue any of the above sports I've cited herein. A quality Walther .22 match rifle, would cost, north of $8K for the rifle alone, excluding all the other bits 'n pieces required.

In a TV show, a couple of years ago, a fit young (civilian) women was permitted to undertake the Army's SAS physical selection course, which cited as a purely exploratory trial, because there was much discussion centring on allowing women to undertake 'Front Line' duties. It was claimed women were physically inferior to men, thus completely unsuited to a front line combat role ? Well, would you believe it, with some minor modifications, she passed and passed quite well ?

I must admit FOXY, it put people like me right back in our respective boxes, believe me !

Foxy,

I believe that some women play football, but not against males.

If women did take on the traditional male sports, I don't imagine that they will compete with men.

Agree about the class/money divide which determines which sports are undertaken.

Perhaps someone can enlighten me, but didn't a woman smash a land-speed record (quite some time ago), but because she was female it wasn't recognised?

Foxy, o sung, equestrian doesn't have to be that expensive. My 20 acres is of no more value than a nice house in a reasonable suburb, & travel to the city or gold Coast is not too hard, so most could have a few horses if they wanted.

Around here people are given slow young racehorses, for dogs meat prices, & with careful selection, they can be gold medal winners.

In fact just a few Olympics back a young lady was part of our Olympic gold medal winning Eventing team on such a horse.

She was riding a horse the was given for pony club as a youngster, & took it all the way to Olympic gold. It takes a lot of ability, & some luck to do something like that, but it is still possible.