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A recent study found that female weightlifters are three times more likely to experience urinary incontinence compared to other women. Additionally, 74.5% of female weightlifters have reported experiencing incontinence during training. Notably, many of these women feel embarrassed about their condition and try to hide it.
✍| News Analysis by Narges Vanak
Feminism and the Question of Equality
Feminism today is often defined as “the defense of women’s fundamental rights based on the ideal of equality.” Initially, women’s rights movements emerged to challenge social inequalities. Over time, however, feminism evolved into a cultural and political movement.
At its core, feminism promotes a contrast between men and women. The word itself implies advocacy for the female gender as a counterbalance to male dominance. While feminism claims to oppose discrimination, it paradoxically upholds a gender-based perspective that can be exclusionary in itself.
The second wave of feminism, led by Simone de Beauvoir, emphasized the idea of “women without men,” advocating for complete equality between the sexes in all social, psychological, and cultural spheres.
According to feminist ideology, men and women must be equal in every aspect, and women should not be deprived of any opportunities—even those traditionally considered “masculine.”
This perspective has driven the push for women to participate in sports that were historically male-dominated. However, the physiological differences between men and women have often been overlooked in this pursuit of equality.
Physiological Differences and Their Impact on Women in Sports
From a biological standpoint, men and women are not identical. For example:
- Muscle Mass: Men naturally have greater muscle mass, particularly in the upper body, while women have a higher percentage of body fat.
- Heart & Lung Capacity: Men typically have larger hearts and lungs, along with a higher red blood cell count, which enhances aerobic capacity.
- Blood Pressure & Fatigue: Women generally have lower blood pressure, making them more prone to fatigue in high-intensity activities.
- Iron Levels: Due to menstruation, women have lower iron stores, which can reduce oxygen-carrying efficiency in the blood.
These biological differences impact athletic performance and can lead to increased health risks for women engaging in high-intensity sports.
Ignoring Women’s Health in the Name of Equality?
The Guardian’s study highlights a serious issue: female weightlifters experience urinary incontinence at a rate three times higher than other women. Despite this, only 7% of affected women seek medical help due to feelings of shame and embarrassment. This raises critical questions:
- Are feminists acknowledging these real health concerns?
- Has the pursuit of gender equality in sports ignored the biological realities of women’s bodies?
- Is feminism truly empowering women, or is it pushing them into spaces that may harm their health?
At what cost does the battle for gender equality continue—if it leads to serious health issues and emotional distress for women?