Student Spotlight: Izabella Doricko

Radically Redefined: Women’s Rights at Risk in College Sports

“Issues that have historically been associated with women’s rights are now almost exclusively trans-rights. I fear that soon there will be no more women’s sports in the traditional sense, due to most people’s silence and apathy on the issue.”

“This culture of silencing and shunning your opponents is not going to age well.”

Izabella Doricko
Southern Methodist
University Major: Philosophy and Communication
*Interned with Speech First in Summer of 2023

You were a student-athlete for many years prior to attending Southern Methodist University. What are your thoughts about the push for trans athletes to participate in women’s sports?

This is a very sensitive issue to talk about with my peers. Sports are an incredible outlet for youth to compete, have fun, and build relationships. It’s where many people learn how to work hard and be a part of a team. I was on a rowing team and would not be the person I am today without that experience. However, it’s so disheartening to me to see biological males being encouraged to compete against biological females. In rowing, men’s performance times are so much faster than women’s times. Even novice men can often beat top women’s varsity boats, which is not a bad or good thing in itself- it just highlights the innate, God-given differences between us.

If a student-athlete disagrees with trans participation in college sports, can they openly express their opposition? Are there social consequences for speaking up?

I would assume the answer is yes, although retaliation is likely considering the political climate on college campuses. Issues that have historically been associated with women’s rights are now almost exclusively trans-rights. I fear that soon there will be no more women’s sports in the traditional sense, due to most people’s silence and apathy on the issue. Biological differences like height, bone structure and density, and shoulder width simply cannot be accounted for. Men and women are equal but different; the reason Title IX exists is to ensure that women have equal competing opportunities as men. But the very rights that women have upheld for generations are being radically redefined under our watch and could soon be obsolete in only a few years’ time.

We have consistently seen the challenge that students endure when trying to speak on political topics in the classroom. What has your experience been like?

My fellow classmates are timid and afraid to say anything regarding their opinions, even just for the sake of discussion. This censorship culture is hurting everyone. The best way to learn and refine your beliefs is to put them on the table for rigorous debate and see if they hold up. Engaging with dissenting viewpoints is an opportunity to grow and try to understand each other. We all want the best for our communities, ourselves, and our nation. This culture of silencing and shunning your opponents is not going to age well.

What are some contributing factors to the group-think we see on many campuses?

At an exceeding number of universities, open discourse is being attacked. This happens when there are restrictive speech codes which impinge on students’ First Amendment rights and chill their speech. Also, sometimes professors are committed to preaching their personal political ideology, which is immoral and destructive to the classroom environment. College is for exploring different opinions and learning- not being told what to think.

I had an experience like this in a course that was supposed to be about medical anthropology. The professor consistently refused to entertain any views that didn’t match her own political ideology. When professors do this, it shuts down potential discussion and learning. Students don’t feel comfortable asking questions or engaging in debate. The only students that would speak up in these scenarios were ones who already agreed with the professor, but most people stayed quiet.

Have you had any positive experiences with your professors that give you hope for the future of civil discourse?

Definitely! Southern Methodist University has some wonderful faculty in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Departments who are committed to open discourse in the classroom. One of my friends was in a religious studies class during group discussions, and she said that every single group discussed abortion (a highly controversial topic!) in a civil way, without any screaming, yelling, or storming out, even though the class was split on the issue. I had a similar experience in my Political Philosophy class. My professor encouraged all of us to discuss any issue which we felt strongly about and explain why. I was astounded that every person in my group shared their stories, while everyone else charitably listened to them.