Executive order on transgender bathrooms sparks privacy debate

Art+by+Maggie+Miller

Art by Maggie Miller

President Joe Biden’s executive order on the prevention and combat of discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation seemingly promotes equality and equal protection under the law for all people. However, diving deeper into the policy’s elements, one can see that it takes rights away from those who identify with their biological gender. The executive order includes the policy that “children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports.”
Title IX states that no person in the United States shall be excluded from participation in any academic program or activity. The title also states that public schools are required to provide girls and boys with equitable sports opportunities. If there is not a separate female sports team for any given sport, females are allowed to play on male sports teams and vice versa. If schools do not follow Title IX, they will not receive federal funding for sports and activities. Title IX created equity between males and females in athletics in schools across the U.S.
Biden’s executive order broadens Title IX to include those who identify with a different gender to allow them to play whichever gender-specific sport they wish to play.
Biological males have physical advantages over biological females in strength, speed, and endurance. Allyson Felix, the fastest female sprinter in the world, holds the record for the fastest 400-meter run at 49.26 seconds. Her record could be beat by about 300 high school boys in the United States. Biological males who may identify as women will be able to participate in women’s sports, putting women at a disadvantage. Female sports teams with biological males will have an unfair advantage due to males’ biological advantage, causing inequality in sports; President Biden placed women at a further disadvantage by allowing biological males to take away opportunities from women in their respective sports. Men being allowed to play in women’s sports detract from women’s athletic opportunities, emotional state and confidence from constantly being shown their inferiority to men’s athletic ability. This added disadvantage detracts the joy of sports, which young females as an outlet from school work or stress. While the Biden administration is attempting to promote inclusion and equality, the entire community of women’s sports is being caught in the crossfire of inclusion.