Sex and Gender Segregation in Competitive Sport: Internal and External Normative Perspectives

A common credo in modern sports is that athletic competition transcends human social difference; within the arena of competitive sport, a person’s performance is the only thing that matters. But at the same time, in many sports, participants are placed into separate classes that are prevented from mixing in competition. Adult males do not compete against young boys in weightlifting contests; high school varsity teams generally play against other varsity teams; boxing matches do not pit heavyweights against lightweights. This kind of segregation is presumably uncontroversial. Indeed, some might say that competitions among participants of vastly differing capabilities are inherently unfair. Furthermore, separating athletes into different competitive categories is arguably good for sport because it fosters broader participation and allows for recognition of accomplishments at multiple levels of capability and performance. The separation of men and women in sports is commonly justified by similar considerations relating to competitive fairness and promotion of broad and equal participation. Yet, in contexts outside of sport, sexand gender-based classifications are subject to strict social, legal, and moral proscriptions. The practice of segregating men and women in competitive sport is so commonplace that one might assume that it must be legally and morally benign, or perhaps even required as a matter of fairness. Bringing sex and gender discrimination analysis