# In which sports do men and women compete equally? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 6, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062 "2009-09-06T15:21:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/22 "2009-09-06T21:15:41Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Heh, I think it’s a bot. It picked up the word Badminton from the first post. It seems so. What would be the purpose of such a bot? Luring people to the linked site? (I didn’t click it) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/23 "2009-09-06T21:21:07Z")
I’ve reported the probable-bot post anyway. > [@Catain Awesome](#): > > Equestrian events, badminton and sailing are the three Olympic examples. Yes, I’d forgotten about sailing. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/24 "2009-09-06T21:22:49Z")
OK, I just checked the link. It’s all in French, so I’m not too sure exactly what it is, but it looks like it’s about some sort of herbal something-or-other, and I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the links were to buy some of whatever it was. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/25 "2009-09-06T21:35:49Z")
> [@bump](#): > > IIRC, women and men are pretty much equal in shooting sports… When I used to compete it was the case that women did reasonably well in rifle events, but not in pistol. Famously, [Margaret Murdock](http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mu/margaret-murdock-1.html) won a silver medal in rifle competition (which at that time included men and women) at the 1976 Olympics - the only time a woman has done that. She had the same score as the gold medal winner, but was second based on the tie-breaking scheme. Here’s a quote from the link above: > [@](#): > > Her first titles came as Margaret Thompson at the 1967 Pan-American Games, with two golds in smallbore shooting. Her 391 total that year in the kneeling position was a new world record – for men or women – the first time any woman had set an internationally recognized world record above the men’s mark – in any sport. Margaret Thompson Murdock continued to win titles and set records, but did not make an Olympic team until 1976. At the 1976 Olympics she tied for first place with Lanny Bassham in the smallbore, three position event. But on the examination of the targets, Bassham was awarded first place and Mrs. Murdock was relegated to the silver medal. Bassham gallantly asked Margaret Murdock to share the victory platform with him as the flag was raised and the anthem played – and rightly so. ---
**Author:** ![mrpayday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@mrpayday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrpayday)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/26 "2009-09-06T22:44:20Z")
Ten pin bowling, I’m sure I’ve seen women competing against men in that. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/27 "2009-09-06T23:02:34Z")
> [@mrpayday](#): > > Ten pin bowling, I’m sure I’ve seen women competing against men in that. Possibly - but Googling seems to suggest that professional bowling has separate men’s and women’s divisions, and that men dominate the top level of the sport. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/28 "2009-09-06T23:10:35Z")
There are two separate questions being answered here. One group of people is answering by noting sports in which women compete without a separate catagory. The other is answering by questioning if there are any sports in which women can compete with men at the highest levels. The answer to the former question is that there are several. The answer to the latter question is that there are very few. Equestrian events may be the only ones easily brought to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/29 "2009-09-06T23:33:12Z")
Actually, I think there are three questions here: There’s a distinction between sports where women _can_ compete, and ones where they actually _do_. Once upon a time, there was a question as to whether any other nationalities could compete with the Irish in boxing. Now, of course, it’s clear that other nationalities have no trouble competing, but for cultural reasons, they didn’t try before. It’s possible that something of the same thing is true in some of the sports mentioned here. Is the relative shortage of women in the top ranks of shooting sports, for instance, because they’re inferior at it, or simply because fewer women go into shooting sports? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/30 "2009-09-07T00:06:13Z")
Some drivers are not happy that Danica Patrick gets a break since she only weighs around 100 lbs, men average about 150 in the IRL. That 50 lbs can make a difference since the cars don’t weigh that much. In Formula 1 the cars must meet a minimum weight with the driver included so there Danica would not get a break. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/31 "2009-09-07T00:38:04Z")
> [@mrpayday](#): > > Ten pin bowling, I’m sure I’ve seen women competing against men in that. Where? It’s separate in America, but I don’t know about other countries. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Awesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Captain\_Awesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Awesome)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/32 "2009-09-07T00:55:22Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > The answer to the former question is that there are several. The answer to the latter question is that there are very few. Equestrian events may be the only ones easily brought to mind. Women compete at the highest level of yacht racing, and have broken several world records, including fastest solo circumnavigation. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/33 "2009-09-07T01:52:13Z")
> [@Captain\_Awesome](#): > > Women compete at the highest level of yacht racing, and have broken several world records, including fastest solo circumnavigation. I’ll have to take your word on that; my fuzzy recollections of the America’s Cup races don’t bring to mind either female crew or female captains… ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/34 "2009-09-07T02:01:05Z")
Curling in the United States: most clubs will have men’s, women’s and mixed leagues. For inter-club bonspiels, there’s usually men’s events, women’s events, and mixed couples (two men, two women). Inter-club “friendlies” are usually mixed. In the Olympics and international competition, competition is single-sex. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/35 "2009-09-07T02:11:43Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Curling in the United States: most clubs will have men’s, women’s and mixed leagues. For inter-club bonspiels, there’s usually men’s events, women’s events, and mixed couples (two men, two women). Inter-club “friendlies” are usually mixed. In the Olympics and international competition, competition is single-sex. Is there an American pro-league of curling that is coed? ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/36 "2009-09-07T02:12:09Z")
> [@PatriotGrrrl](#): > > motor sports At the top level, motorsports require great endurance and strength, which might be a consideration. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/37 "2009-09-07T02:14:57Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > I’ll have to take your word on that; my fuzzy recollections of the America’s Cup races don’t bring to mind either female crew or female captains… America3 was an all female crewed boat that very nearly represented the US in the America’s Cup in 1995. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/38 "2009-09-07T03:53:17Z")
As a one time event, Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in tennis: [The Battle of the Sexes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_of_the_Sexes_(tennis)) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/39 "2009-09-07T06:32:37Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Not sure about that: women have a significant weight advantage there. I don’t think women compete in European Formula One races, but over the pond there have been a few women competing in NASCAR events as well as dragster racing. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/40 "2009-09-07T08:11:23Z")
Just to be clear, badminton is not a sport where men and women compete against each other (except in mixed doubles). And it requires a lot of power and athleticism for smashes and jumps so women would definitely not be able to compete with men. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062/41 "2009-09-07T12:50:08Z")
Shirley Muldowney won a lot of drag races in the 70s and 80s, she won the top fuel title 3 times. [Shirley Muldowney - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Muldowney) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-sports-do-men-and-women-compete-equally/509062.md?page=3)