Photo credit, property of Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Getty Images, fair use
According to one source, the phrase “equal rights, equal fights” describes “when a woman punches a man and says a man can’t hit a woman but then the man points out that equal rights mean equal fights.”
There are obvious consequences when the ideal world enters a bout with the real world under the guise of equality. For context, consider the following syllogisms:
Form (modus ponens) –
If p, then q; p; therefore, q.
Example –
If females are equal to males, then equal rights mean equal fights.
Females are equal to males.
Therefore, equal rights mean equal fights.
Form (hypothetical) –
If p, then q; if q, then r; therefore, if p, then r.
Example –
If females are equal to males, then there’s no difference between a biological female and a male-to-female trans individual.
If there’s no difference between a biological female and a male-to-female trans individual, then equal rights mean equal fights.
Therefore, if females are equal to males, then equal rights mean equal fights.
When ascertaining whether or not a proposal is rational, I understand that the suggestion needs to meet both logical and reasonable criteria. For instance, one may propose that in order to eradicate cancer in humans everyone with cancer must be killed.
Although this proposal is logical, it isn’t reasonable if one considers that human life has intrinsic value. Therefore, killing everyone with cancer is an unreasonable – and thus irrational – idea.
Using the same consideration, the aforementioned modus ponens and hypothetical syllogisms aren’t reasonable even though they follow consistent logical forms. These proposals are irrational, because on average biological females and males aren’t equal to one another.
In specific, females tend to have less physical strength than males. Nevertheless, in the United States and in a number of other countries, females are afforded equal rights under the law and in other domains (e.g., right to compete in the Olympics and against trans individuals).
However, the phrase “equal rights, equal fights” may result in discomforting outcomes when idealistic equality of rights enters the ring with realistic sex-based differences. Although this may be a somewhat controversial proposal in modernity, women on average aren’t physically equal to men.
Moreover, male-to-female trans individuals generally have an unreasonable advantage over biological females in many Olympic events (e.g., boxing). Thus, it’s irrational to propose that women can contend with men when considering upper body strength and fast-twitch muscle fiber differences.
This remains valid even if one’s opponent doesn’t identify as trans and is instead classified as intersex. If a female-identifying intersex individual retains more masculine features (i.e., muscularity, testosterone, etc.), one’s opponent may have a significant advantage in regard to competition.
According to one source, “Italian Angela Carini threw in the towel after just two punches from her opponent Imane Khelif - who was banned from the world championships after being deemed ‘biologically male’.” Equal rights, equal fights? I argue not.
A separate source states, “The clash between the 25-year-old and her Algerian opponent Imane Khelif lasted just 46 seconds, with Carini yelling ‘this is unjust’ before she fell to canvas and wept having had her Olympic dreams snatched away from her.” This bout between the two competitors was based on irrationality.
I value the non-aggression principle (NAP) when it comes to a male defending himself against a female who physically attacks him. Still, a voluntary bout of physical violence between a biological woman and a trans “woman” arguably isn’t within consideration of the NAP.
In any case, I wonder at what point humanity will stop engaging in irrational rounds of idealistically moral and ethical appeasement and simply allow reality to exist as it is. In order to return to rationality, people will need to acknowledge and accept truth.
A person cannot merely identify as, chemically alter to become, or surgically change oneself to be someone of the opposite sex. Although it currently isn’t considered polite to admit this, I’m speaking truth herein.
As well, women aren’t physically equal to men on average. Therefore, it may be time to reconsider pitting females against males in boxing rings, on the battlefield, in law enforcing and security roles, and in other areas in which women aren’t evenly matched to men.
Additionally, it’s irrational to maintain that one shouldn’t discuss such matters out of perceived impoliteness of civil discourse or supposed harm to one’s mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Equal rights and lefts may break your nose, but words expressed herein can’t hurt you.
Perhaps you disagree. Maybe you’ve disturbed yourself with irrational beliefs about what I’ve stated in this blogpost. If you’d like to learn about how not to upset yourself in such a manner, I may be able to help as we enter the ring of disputation. Better that than unequal fights, I suspect.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Bhatia, S. and Cotterill, T. (2024, August 1). Italian boxer Angela Carini says ‘I quit to save my life’ after stopping Olympics bout with ‘biologically male’ opponent Imane Khelif just 46 seconds into first round. Daily Mail. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13698519/angela-carini-quit-save-life-stopping-olympics-imane-khelif.html
Cotterill, T. (2024, August 1). Olympian Sharron Davies rages that games chiefs are ‘allowing women to be beaten up by men’, Liz Truss asks ‘when will this madness stop? and JK Rowling slams ‘bullying cheat’ after ‘biological male’ Imane Khelif wins 46-second games fight. Daily Mail. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13697831/olympian-sharron-davies-rages-allowing-woman-beat-men.html
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
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Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (2024, April 29). Group-differentiated rights. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/group-differentiated-rights
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
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Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2023, January 8). Logic and reason. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/logic-and-reason
Hollings, D. (2024, March 4). Mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-emotional-and-behavioral-health
Hollings, D. (2023, October 2). Morals and ethics. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/morals-and-ethics
Hollings, D. (2024, April 22). On disputing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-disputing
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2023, April 24). On truth. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-truth
Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
Hollings, D. (2022, October 7). Should, must, and ought. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/should-must-and-ought
Hollings, D. (2023, October 17). Syllogism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/syllogism
Hollings, D. (2022, December 14). The is-ought problem. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-is-ought-problem
Hollings, D. (2023, July 7). When idealism doesn’t stack up to realism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/when-idealism-doesn-t-stack-up-to-realism
Vibe check boi. (2020, January 4). Equal rights equal fights. Urban Dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=equal%20rights%20equal%20fights
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Non-aggression principle. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-aggression_principle
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