We are Seen in Sport – a network for players, parents, coaches, and officials who believe that female categories were instigated by governing bodies precisely because there is a biological difference between men and women.
We believe that fair play is only meaningful when these categories are protected. We believe that both the science, and evidence from women and girls, supports the need for female categories at both elite and recreational levels.
We believe that many national governing bodies are in breach of the Equality Act 2010, by not protecting these categories. We recognise that it is tough for players, coaches, parents and officials to speak up.
We believe sport is and can be for all but, to grow the women and girl’s game and protect females in sport, those who are biologically male should participate only in open, mixed or men's categories.
Seen in Sport is committed to the belief that sex is binary and immutable, and aligned to the principles of other SEEN networks in the UK in upholding the protections related to sex laid out in the Act.
We feel that the inconsistency of NGBs' strict criteria on age and disability categories, whilst imposing no such restrictions on men playing in female categories, does not adhere to NGBs' stated aims to provide equity, equality and opportunities for all.
We also recognise that there are inherent safety risks both whilst playing, and in changing rooms and toilets, and it is vital for these to be safe single-sex spaces for women and girls.
We recognise that speaking up might impact the development opportunities players and officials get, and that they might be subjected to abuse and slurs just for questioning their NGB's policy.
Note to all those (usually men) telling girls not to participate and take a stand - women and girls were not asked if they wanted TIM in their sport. NGB's undemocratically allowed men in, without asking women and girls
@FA
@ECB_cricket
@Riley_Gaines_
@ECB_cricket
has a self-ID policy that allows TIM into the very categories it created specifically for females
Women and girls were not asked if they were happy with this
Contact your Sports' Governing Body & let them know how you feel about allowing males into female categories of sport (and into changing rooms and toilets) using the WRN template letter. Check the WRN Fair Sports Awards for links to sports' transgender policies & contact details
Is your sport worthy of a gold award? Or is it a rotten tomato?
@WomensRightsNet
have done some amazing work on sport in the UK. Find out where your sport stands here:
@mara_yamauchi
@lucyfrazermp
Absolutely! Why should only elite sport be protected? What about the thousands of women and girls wanting fair sport, safe changing rooms and toilets and to enjoy the sport they love without fear of injury or intimidation?
So the argument goes like this..... "the numbers are too small for it to matter!"
We say it does matter. Even if just one women or girl self excludes, that is one too many
@fairplaywomen
Evidence the NGB's are ignoring. It's criminal that women and girls have been sold down the river by the very organisations that pour millions of pounds into growing the female game!
@PeterTatchell
a. the research has been done
b. women and girls don't want men in their sport/changing rooms/toilets
c. individual assessment would be costly time consuming
No one is banned from sport. People are segregated for reasons of age, sex and ability to ensure sport is safe and fair
Using the excellent WRN Rotten Tomato awards, we will be highlighting sports that do not have fair or safe policies for women and girls - with the summer upon us, first up is cricket!
@Dukland
@WesleyAntonyD
A coach will lose their job, be told they are transphobic and potentially have their career ruined. Doesn't make it right. Of course it doesn't. But it's a hard stand to take in such a toxic atmosphere. It's the governing bodies who are at fault
The ECB are well deserved recipients of the
@WomensRightsNet
Rotten Tomato Award having consistently refused to recognise the Equality Act 2010 which allows sport to be segregated by biological sex
The Self-ID policy allows TIM into female safe spaces, including toilets. Imagine being 12 years old, leaking whilst playing and having to change in a loo with a bloke standing just outside your cubicle door
When asked to protect women and girls cricket the ECB came up with a Disparity Policy which puts the onus squarely on the shoulder of unqualified volunteers to exclude players
Currently the ECB's stance is: Grassroots: Males allowed in female categories. Elite level: Males allowed on a case-by-case basis. They admit that this is based on a social rather than medical model
@Real_King_Elvis
@RachaelWongAus
@salltweets
If thought is the deciding position on definition then sport does not require categories for age, disability or ability. If I feel like a 12 year old, I should be able to play in junior leagues. If I feel good enough to play for a regional side, I should be able to.
@mamaninja
@salltweets
Ultimate frisbee has mixed, women's and open. However, in some universities the women's is called wxmens and is for "women and other genders"
@UKUltimate
@sharrond62
@ECB_cricket
@ECB_cricket
created female categories years ago presumably with input from those amazing trailblazers who fought for the right to play both at grassroots and elite levels. These same categories are being destroyed without asking for current player input. Why?
However, it isn't fair for all is it? By creating confusion and allowing biological men to play in the female game, women and girls are getting hurt and excluding
@ultimatepool_
You have betrayed women pool players. Why would any young girl want to take up a sport that prioritises the feelings of men over the ability of women and girls?
@WomensRightsNet
@FA
Why did
@thefa
and
@ECB_cricket
instigate female only categories if not to give women and girls opportunities and encourage them to take part? Why have separate categories, funding, strategies and development officers?
@RishiSunak
@RishiSunak
have you asked
@ECB_cricket
about it's self ID policy and allowing men and boys to play in the women and girl's game? Or how female players feel about this?
@WomensRightsNet
@ECB_cricket
Not a great look
@ECB_cricket
There are open/mixed categories at recreational level and yet you still have a self ID policy that allows men and boys into the women and girl's game
The FA's stance is: "This issue is complex and constantly evolving... we are currently reviewing our transgender policy for English football to ensure it is inclusive, fair and safe for all."
@Real_King_Elvis
@RachaelWongAus
@salltweets
All the reasons used to create categories for age, disability and ability, were also thought about years ago when National Governing Bodies decided to set up female categories in the first place.
Why then have they only thrown women and girls under the bus?
@sebcoe
why don't women and girl's categories at the recreational level deserve to be protected? Where do the elite athletes of the future start their passion for sport?
I suppose it might work. I haven't played football for about 30 years. Just off to catch a flight to Germany to help England win the Euros. I'm sure Gareth Southgate will be delighted to have me. All in the name of inclusivity...