If women and men are equal in every way, why do we have seperate sports categories?

Question

For instance, why have the WNBA? Why not just have the NBA and the best players be they men or women could play? In many areas of our culture people have used quotas to try to ensure equality. Why not do this with sports? Why not tell the LA Lakers that they have to have a certain number of women on their team?

I personally feel like women and men are equal in some ways and not equal in others. Women are better at some things and men are better at some things. What do you think?

Answer 1

Men and woman are not equal in every way. There are definite physical and mental differences, obviously.

Men are stronger, have more muscle mass than woman. In many sports the physical difference is impossible to overcome and therefore a woman would not be able to be competitive. Its really just common sense.

Answer 2

physiologically men and women are very different. Women do not build muscle the same way that men do therefore as a "general" statement men are stronger than women. Now dont go getting your panties in a bunch i know there are some women who are stronger than some men. but lets look at how this has worked in sports. Haley Wickenheiser ( dont know the correct spelling) was the best female hockey player hands down in the world. She went to try and play professional hockey, not in the NHL even, but in Finland. She did alright but didnt last long as the hitting even in a European style game was too much for her. I believe the same would hold true to most sports. Despite what people think basketball is a very combative sport especially when fighting for position in the paint. I dont think that there would be very many women that would be fast, strong or tough enough to handle an NBA game with men. No disrespect intended ladies

Answer 3

Let's say that were to happen.....the women in a sports team (say the Lakers) would be severely outclassed and go unnoticed. Remember men are normally stronger and faster than women (NOT a put down, but a biological fact!)
They will tire more easily, and a male player can tackle a ball away from her with much more ease.
Since women won't be able to do much in a mixed team, they will spend most of the time at the bench.

Answer 4

Men and women are not the same. That is a foolish myth perpetrated on us to advance feminism but that is another story. Men and women are equal in value but created with different strengths and weaknesses intended to complement each other. Our bodies, are built differently as a result. Althoughhhhhhhh, maybe more women would watch sports if there were lots of cute guys in sexy little outfits wiggling and dancing like cheerleaders!

Answer 5

Men and women are different, physically, and through learning, societal and cultural influence. Equality is not equal across the board in my opinion. My meaning is that every human being deserves to be treated justly, is free from harm and persecution, and is given the same opportunities. In work, same job, same pay. As for sports, I think that might be a good idea to have mixed teams.

Answer 6

No one said that women were physically equal to men. But being physically different has nothing to do with being mentally different, and equality is about equality of pay, equality of rights, etc. NOT equality of running fast. Women are better at some things and men are better at some things?? The only thing they have found consistently in research is that women seem to have better endurance than men, and men seem to have more strength (particularly upper body) and speed than women.

Women are better at breast feeding, and men are better at peeing standing up. These are physical things, and have nothing to do with equality to me. And for your information, I can do ten pull ups, which is more than a lot of men my age (28).

Answer 7

You contradict yourself by wanting to impose a "quota" (have women in the team)
Men and women are equal to the sense they are both humans with everything it means. But Physical abilities differ tremendously. This is not a choice, it is nature's doing.
Women are stronger than men in other ways. If it came to using on brains. Then yes I agree with you. Only the bests should be aligned, be it woman or man.
But physically, you cannot compare all the time. 8 times out of 10, men will come up stronger.
Mother nature's doing that's all.

Answer 8

Men are stronger and rougher than women. Men and women same their areas where they are considered equal but physical things (I think) are a little different.

Answer 9

Depends upon your definition of "equal."
Equal in worth, in dignity, in rights?
Yes, absolutely.
Equal physically?
Well, come on.
As a group, men are measurably taller and stronger than women by nature.
So what exactly is the problem you have here?

Answer 10

i agree. i wish women were in football too. but when you think about it. the reason most likely is that men are naturally stronger than females because they have testosterone. however that is not an excuse because a female can still level up with a man. they would just have to work harder.