Hurt Girls (NTTimes on another downside to Title IX)
Former Member
Anyone catch the NY Times Sunday Magazine Article "Hurt Girls" two weeks ago which posited the politically incorrect fact that female athletes propelled by Title IX are ending up as physical wrecks by the time they are young adults? Dealing mostly with girls in soccer, lacrosse, and basketball, there were some hard figures showing, for example, that female athletes in soccer get ACT tears at five times the rate of males. (As expected, swimming did not come up as a source of injury). Most of the letters published this week in response were the reflexive defense of Title IX by the Title IX athletic establishment.
Yes,females have more joint problems than men,yes Title IX hasn't been a panacea,but look at the alternative!Athletic women have better self esteem,feel better about their bodies,are less likely to get in abusive relationships,are less likely to get pregnant as a teen,etc.Anyone who doesn't think athletic participation has been a boon for females isn't paying attention.For boys,far and away the greatest cause of severe injury is football,I guess we should outlaw it.Also we shouldn't let boys pitch and just play T-ball through high school,preferably with a wiffle ball for safety.
Yes,females have more joint problems than men,yes Title IX hasn't been a panacea,but look at the alternative!Athletic women have better self esteem,feel better about their bodies,are less likely to get in abusive relationships,are less likely to get pregnant as a teen,etc.Anyone who doesn't think athletic participation has been a boon for females isn't paying attention.For boys,far and away the greatest cause of severe injury is football,I guess we should outlaw it.Also we shouldn't let boys pitch and just play T-ball through high school,preferably with a wiffle ball for safety.
