154. What Is a Woman? (Olympics Edition)

Nancy and Sarah tackle the week’s most controversial Olympics bout, when Algerian boxer Imane Khelif defeated Italian boxer Angela Carini in a 46-second fight. JK Rowling howled! JK Rowling-haters roared back at her! Has anyone ever cared this much about women’s boxing?

This actually isn’t a story about trans women in sports — though it kicked up plenty of opinions about that subject — but a more nuanced discussion of how genetic abnormalities should play out in athletics. Our roving conversation covers:

• DSD cases (Differences in sexual development)

• Why is boxing called “the sweet science”?

• The spectacle of women being hit —> kind of uncomfortable

• Title IX was never intended to expand women’s sports, but it did anyway

• What kind of sports do girls want to play?

• The golden age of female trick riders

• Stella Walsh, early intersex Olympic champion

• How much do men hate seeing women cry?

• The old Italian woman who yells Sarah to sleep each night

• But wait: What is a man?

… and much more!

REMINDER: First Sunday Zoom TONIGHT! 5pm PT/8pm ET. Check your email later today for link.

Baller quick-cut of men being impressed with a woman killing it in a dude arena

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