Kye Allums, is getting a lot of mainstream press coverage about his transition from female to male while continuing to play on the George Washington University female NCAA Division 1 Basketball team.
Official statements from GWU and Allums follow:
Thoughts about this modern example of gender expression and sports? For example, do you think that Kye should be unable to play on the men's team when he completes his transition from female to male? If that should happen then, then why not now?
Statement from Robert Chernak, Senior Vice Provost and Senior Vice President for Student Academic and Support Services:“Student-athlete Kye Allums has decided to live as a male student and be referred to as a male. The George Washington University supports Kye and his right to make this decision. Kye has informed the university that he will not begin any medical or drug protocols while a student-athlete. The University consulted the NCAA regarding his competitive status. Kye will continue to be a member of the women’s basketball team. Kye has informed his teammates, and the university, with Kye’s consent, has informed athletics staff and others, as appropriate.”Statement from junior Kye Allums, male member of George Washington’s women’s basketball team:“GW has been supportive during this transition. This means a lot. I didn’t choose to be born in this body and feel the way I do. I decided to transition, that is change my name and pronouns because it bothered me to hide who I am, and I am trying to help myself and others to be who they are. I told my teammates first, and they, including my coaches, have supported me. My teammates have embraced me as the big brother of the team. They have been my family, and I love them all.”
Well, this case is fascinating because it involves gender mixing in sports.
ReplyDeleteNow, if Kye were to play men's basketball, the coach of the team would reason that he would be at a significant disadvantage because he is not biologically male. The tempo and physicality in men's basketball is drastically different from women's. As an injury prone 5'11 biologically female guard, he is not as big, strong, or as athletic as most of the elite male guards that he will be defending against and defended by. That enough could be enough turn off the men's coach
Should he be able to compete on a men's team? I don't know because the while the rules specify you have to be male to play on a male's team, they did not specify if you have to be "biologically male." However, I find this development to be interesting nonetheless.
Aren't there other 5'11" players on men's basketball teams? I'm curious that Kye went into Basketball in the first place since he wasn't over 6' tall!
ReplyDeleteThere are 5'11 players on men's basketball teams. It's not completely unusual for players to be under 6 feet, yet it is rare because most point guards (who are usually the smallest players on the floor [with the exception of Magic Johnson]) range around 6'1 to 6'4, thus they would be at a disadvantage defensively. Famous players under 6 feet include Nate Robinson, Ty Lawson, and Mugsy Bogues (smallest player in NBA history at 5'3). Women's basketball players tend to be shorter than men. Compare, most centers (the tallest players) in the WNBA are about 6'4-6'8 whereas centers in the NBA tend to be 6'11-7'1 range.
ReplyDeleteShort point guards in women's basketball are drastically different from men's point guard. Even though men's players under six feet are short in comparison to the rest of the team, they can still do extremely athletic things such as consistently dunking. Take 5'9 NAte Robinson, who's won the dunk contest a record three times! Women who are under even over a tall 6'5 lack the ability to dunk because of the pressure it exerts on their joints. Also, the speed and tempo of all men's basketball is definitely faster, more aggressive, and more physical than women's basketball. Men's basketball is notorious for attacking the basket and posting up players whereas women tend to settle for open jumpshots. Women players do this because the wear-and-tear is worse on the female body than it is the male.
Now, this is not to say Kye lacks skill, because he obviously has some. Yet, because of his size and sex, he is somewhat limited in the things he can do.