Could Women’s Sports be the Catalyst for Cultural Change?
Female athletics could be the path forward in the cultural battle against progressivism.
By Madison Fossa
The United States is witnessing a battle for the culture taking place not in school hallways, public restrooms, or corporate offices, but on the sports fields of young women.
“LGBTQ+ rights” and “inclusivity” have affected many areas of American life. These are not only hot button issues, but are also the subjects of court cases and lawsuits. There is a push for the erasure of sex-specific bathrooms. Schools are exposing children to explicit material. Christian parents are losing the right to adopt children. Businesses are threatened for holding tightly to personal beliefs.
Numerous Americans have been affected by this push for “LGBTQ+ rights” and “inclusivity” and the movement is continuing without an end in sight. None of the issues presented above have been enough to turn the cultural tide in favor of protecting children, businesses, and families from the destructive path of progressivism. This year, however, there is a growing movement in female athletics that may be the route to victory on these issues.
Sports Taking the Spotlight
Recently, there have been numerous headlines and even lawsuits over transgender athletes competing against women. A well known example of this occurred in 2022 when Lia Thomas won the NCAA Division I women’s 500-yard freestyle. Thomas, a transgender athlete, competed in women’s swimming despite his biological sex.
Other examples include two active court cases, Soule v. Connecticut Association of Schools and Hecox v. Little. In both cases, the prosecutors are challenging the ability of men identifying as women to play in women’s sports. Thomas’ victories, these legal suits, and many more like them have produced concern about the integrity of women’s sports.
San Jose Spartans
The movement in favor of women’s sports began to gain traction when the San Jose State Spartans volleyball team took the spotlight. The team, currently 13-4 in their season, has faced controversy over Blaire Flemming. Flemming, a biological male, now identifies as a woman and is playing for the D1 volleyball team at San Jose State.
When San Jose State played the New Mexico Lobos, Flemming spiked the ball with such force that a New Mexico player was quickly and harshly knocked to the floor. The video of this play went viral across social media and news platforms, spiking concern for the safety of female players.
Many teams have decided to forfeit their games against San Jose State, which is an enormous statement compared to anything that has been seen before. Many female volleyball players and their coaches are speaking out in defense for women’s rights and safety on the court. Southern Utah, Boise State, Wyoming, Utah State and Nevada have all forfeited against the San Jose team. Two of these schools have forfeited twice against the Spartans, for a total of seven forfeits.
Backing from Organizations
Larger organizations are following this momentum and furthering the cause of these student-athletes. Concerned Women for America has begun writing letters to schools scheduled to play San Jose State, informing them of Flemming’s biological sex (a detail the NCAA does not disclose ) and encouraging them to forfeit matches.
The Independent Council on Women’s Sports is now providing funding for a lawsuit against the NCAA as well. ICONS is claiming that the NCAA is violating provisions protecting women in sports in Title IX. Plaintiffs in the case include Riley Gaines, who competed against Lia Thomas, and Brooke Slusser, who is the co-captain of the San Jose State team. (READ MORE: The Evolution of Title IX)
Individuals Taking a Stand
Although five teams have forfeited their games against San Jose, Slusser’s involvement in the lawsuit is an even more powerful statement. Slusser is continuing to play for San Jose and stands to lose much for her bravery. She claims that she was not initially informed of Flemming’s biological sex at the start of this season and is uncomfortable having to share spaces like the locker room with her transgender teammate.
Only one of the San Jose coaches, Assistant Coach Melissa Batie-Smoose, has been supportive of Slusser’s decision to join the lawsuit. Batie-Smoose filed her own Title IX complaint against the team, alleging that the they have given Flemming preferential treatment over Slusser. Following the complaint, Batie-Smoose was suspended from her position. Despite the lack of support from her coaches, Slusser is happy with her decision because she is speaking about an issue that “so many people do care about. It’s just that so many people are scared to talk about it.”
Implications for the Future
The movement emerging from the San Jose controversy is gathering strength and speed thanks to support from coaches, universities, and large political groups. However, none of these groups speak as loudly as the female athletes themselves. Much of the country had accepted the integration of transgender ideology into everyday life, but these young women have decided to take a stand against injustice. College athletes like Brooke Slusser are putting the games that they love on hold to fight for their rights and protection in the sports arena.
LQBTQ+ ideology has detrimentally affected many areas of American life. The bravery of these women and dedication of the organizations backing them may turn the cultural tide back in favor of uplifting women, building families, protecting children, and supporting businesses. Although there has been little progress in the fight against these dangerous ideologies, it is possible that women’s sports and the female athletes themselves will be the ones to finally make a difference in how our culture views these issues.
About the Author
Madison Fossa is a sophomore at Grove City College, from New Jersey. She is a Trustee Scholar majoring in Biology and minoring in Technical Writing. Madison is an ambassador for Young Women for America, and the Vice President of Young Women for America on campus at Grove City.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grove City College, the Institute for Faith and Freedom, or its affiliates.
Cover Image: Photo by Delia Giandeini on Unsplash (Cropped).