Should single sex couples be allowed to compete in figure skating pairs competition?

[j brown's body]

"One night in late February, Madison Hubbell and Gabriella Papadakis, two Olympic gold medal ice dancers, glided into a skating exhibition in Zurich’s 85-year-old Hallenstadion to shatter one of figure skating’s great taboos by performing not with their longtime male partners but each other. ...They did this because they want to change figure skating — ice dance, in particular. In doing so, they are going up against more than 100 years of tradition because ice dance is different from any Olympic sport. At heart, it’s a performance as theatrical as it is athletic, each routine a fairy tale heavy on romance and chivalry. A male skater almost always leads, and his female partner follows, all while gazing at each other with loving eyes. ...Many women in skating, including Hubbell and Papadakis, find this dynamic uncomfortable and outdated.

...She and Hubbell see one gender ice dance as a chance to create more opportunities for female skaters because the pool of males is small, leaving many women without partners. But skating is a judged sport, and judges tend to be old-fashioned. They like the love stories and can favor couples who seem more passionate than others.

Nearly three years ago, Skate Canada, the Canadian figure skating federation, revised its rules to change the definition of a team from “one man and one woman” to “two skaters.” But no other country’s federation has followed, and the International Skating Union, which oversees the sport globally and at the Olympics, does not allow single-gender teams. ...“I think when [people] see two women skating together, they are like, ‘Oh God, this is gay,’” Papadakis said. Or as Kaitlyn Weaver, an American-born ice dancer who went to two Olympics with Canadian skating partner Andrew Poje and led Skate Canada’s gender definition change, said, “The conservative people don’t want to see two men skating together … it’s their homophobia.”

“This is a white, cisgender, hetero sport,” she said."

Link

On the one hand, there is a necessity for it, on the other hand, it's quite a change in culture.

 

[ElChupacabra]

Good question. I guess that's up to those running the sport and if there's a demand for it.

 

[lynnwinslow]

"One night in late February, Madison Hubbell and Gabriella Papadakis, two Olympic gold medal ice dancers, glided into a skating exhibition in Zurich’s 85-year-old Hallenstadion to shatter one of figure skating’s great taboos by performing not with their longtime male partners but each other. ...They did this because they want to change figure skating — ice dance, in particular. In doing so, they are going up against more than 100 years of tradition because ice dance is different from any Olympic sport. At heart, it’s a performance as theatrical as it is athletic, each routine a fairy tale heavy on romance and chivalry. A male skater almost always leads, and his female partner follows, all while gazing at each other with loving eyes. ...Many women in skating, including Hubbell and Papadakis, find this dynamic uncomfortable and outdated.

...She and Hubbell see one gender ice dance as a chance to create more opportunities for female skaters because the pool of males is small, leaving many women without partners. But skating is a judged sport, and judges tend to be old-fashioned. They like the love stories and can favor couples who seem more passionate than others.

Nearly three years ago, Skate Canada, the Canadian figure skating federation, revised its rules to change the definition of a team from “one man and one woman” to “two skaters.” But no other country’s federation has followed, and the International Skating Union, which oversees the sport globally and at the Olympics, does not allow single-gender teams. ...“I think when [people] see two women skating together, they are like, ‘Oh God, this is gay,’” Papadakis said. Or as Kaitlyn Weaver, an American-born ice dancer who went to two Olympics with Canadian skating partner Andrew Poje and led Skate Canada’s gender definition change, said, “The conservative people don’t want to see two men skating together … it’s their homophobia.”

“This is a white, cisgender, hetero sport,” she said."

Link

On the one hand, there is a necessity for it, on the other hand, it's quite a change in culture.

There are non romantic ice dance pairs and sibling pairs but the sport is generally seen as a couple's event even though the male partner might be gay. Or end up marrying someone from a competing team! (Charlie White and Tanith Belbin).

 

[j brown's body]

There are non romantic ice dance pairs and sibling pairs but the sport is generally seen as a couple's event even though the male partner might be gay. Or end up marrying someone from a competing team! (Charlie White and Tanith Belbin).

The illusion is strong and effective.

 

[Helix]

Sure, why not?

 

[Lord of Planar]

This is a male/female competition and part of the attraction, is an attractive regular couple.

I do not personally care, as I never watch it. The target audience group are the people to consult. My position is based on the public acceptance of that audience. I believe it will ruin the financial structure couple figure skating needs.

Why not have the LGBTQ community start their own figure skating, composed of their group. Such venues are not possible without financing. I do believe it will destroy figure skating unless a separate classification is started.

 

[Lisa]

This is a male/female competition and part of the attraction, is an attractive regular couple.

I do not personally care, as I never watch it. The target audience group are the people to consult. My position is based on the public acceptance of that audience. I believe it will ruin the financial structure couple figure skating needs.

Why not have the LGBTQ community start their own figure skating, composed of their group. Such venues are not possible without financing. I do believe it will destroy figure skating unless a separate classification is started.

If you had bothered to read the OP before deciding to respond you would have known this has nothing to do with gay or lesbian couples. There is a shortage of male figure skaters, so many females want to skate with another female. There is nothing romantic involved.

 

[Phys251]

"One night in late February, Madison Hubbell and Gabriella Papadakis, two Olympic gold medal ice dancers, glided into a skating exhibition in Zurich’s 85-year-old Hallenstadion to shatter one of figure skating’s great taboos by performing not with their longtime male partners but each other. ...They did this because they want to change figure skating — ice dance, in particular. In doing so, they are going up against more than 100 years of tradition because ice dance is different from any Olympic sport. At heart, it’s a performance as theatrical as it is athletic, each routine a fairy tale heavy on romance and chivalry. A male skater almost always leads, and his female partner follows, all while gazing at each other with loving eyes. ...Many women in skating, including Hubbell and Papadakis, find this dynamic uncomfortable and outdated.

...She and Hubbell see one gender ice dance as a chance to create more opportunities for female skaters because the pool of males is small, leaving many women without partners. But skating is a judged sport, and judges tend to be old-fashioned. They like the love stories and can favor couples who seem more passionate than others.

Nearly three years ago, Skate Canada, the Canadian figure skating federation, revised its rules to change the definition of a team from “one man and one woman” to “two skaters.” But no other country’s federation has followed, and the International Skating Union, which oversees the sport globally and at the Olympics, does not allow single-gender teams. ...“I think when [people] see two women skating together, they are like, ‘Oh God, this is gay,’” Papadakis said. Or as Kaitlyn Weaver, an American-born ice dancer who went to two Olympics with Canadian skating partner Andrew Poje and led Skate Canada’s gender definition change, said, “The conservative people don’t want to see two men skating together … it’s their homophobia.”

“This is a white, cisgender, hetero sport,” she said."

Link

On the one hand, there is a necessity for it, on the other hand, it's quite a change in culture.

Sure, why not.

 

[CLAX1911]

"One night in late February, Madison Hubbell and Gabriella Papadakis, two Olympic gold medal ice dancers, glided into a skating exhibition in Zurich’s 85-year-old Hallenstadion to shatter one of figure skating’s great taboos by performing not with their longtime male partners but each other. ...They did this because they want to change figure skating — ice dance, in particular. In doing so, they are going up against more than 100 years of tradition because ice dance is different from any Olympic sport. At heart, it’s a performance as theatrical as it is athletic, each routine a fairy tale heavy on romance and chivalry. A male skater almost always leads, and his female partner follows, all while gazing at each other with loving eyes. ...Many women in skating, including Hubbell and Papadakis, find this dynamic uncomfortable and outdated.

...She and Hubbell see one gender ice dance as a chance to create more opportunities for female skaters because the pool of males is small, leaving many women without partners. But skating is a judged sport, and judges tend to be old-fashioned. They like the love stories and can favor couples who seem more passionate than others.

Nearly three years ago, Skate Canada, the Canadian figure skating federation, revised its rules to change the definition of a team from “one man and one woman” to “two skaters.” But no other country’s federation has followed, and the International Skating Union, which oversees the sport globally and at the Olympics, does not allow single-gender teams. ...“I think when [people] see two women skating together, they are like, ‘Oh God, this is gay,’” Papadakis said. Or as Kaitlyn Weaver, an American-born ice dancer who went to two Olympics with Canadian skating partner Andrew Poje and led Skate Canada’s gender definition change, said, “The conservative people don’t want to see two men skating together … it’s their homophobia.”

“This is a white, cisgender, hetero sport,” she said."

Link

On the one hand, there is a necessity for it, on the other hand, it's quite a change in culture.

How is there a necessity for it? If you have a screening partner you don't necessarily have a sexual relationship with them so what is this doing in sex and sexuality?

 

[Lord of Planar]

How is there a necessity for it? If you have a screening partner you don't necessarily have a sexual relationship with them so what is this doing in sex and sexuality?

My only point regarding is the tradition of couples ice skating. How much will the financial loases be when many people stop buying tickets.

 

[Aristaeus]

"One night in late February, Madison Hubbell and Gabriella Papadakis, two Olympic gold medal ice dancers, glided into a skating exhibition in Zurich’s 85-year-old Hallenstadion to shatter one of figure skating’s great taboos by performing not with their longtime male partners but each other. ...They did this because they want to change figure skating — ice dance, in particular. In doing so, they are going up against more than 100 years of tradition because ice dance is different from any Olympic sport. At heart, it’s a performance as theatrical as it is athletic, each routine a fairy tale heavy on romance and chivalry. A male skater almost always leads, and his female partner follows, all while gazing at each other with loving eyes. ...Many women in skating, including Hubbell and Papadakis, find this dynamic uncomfortable and outdated.

...She and Hubbell see one gender ice dance as a chance to create more opportunities for female skaters because the pool of males is small, leaving many women without partners. But skating is a judged sport, and judges tend to be old-fashioned. They like the love stories and can favor couples who seem more passionate than others.

Nearly three years ago, Skate Canada, the Canadian figure skating federation, revised its rules to change the definition of a team from “one man and one woman” to “two skaters.” But no other country’s federation has followed, and the International Skating Union, which oversees the sport globally and at the Olympics, does not allow single-gender teams. ...“I think when [people] see two women skating together, they are like, ‘Oh God, this is gay,’” Papadakis said. Or as Kaitlyn Weaver, an American-born ice dancer who went to two Olympics with Canadian skating partner Andrew Poje and led Skate Canada’s gender definition change, said, “The conservative people don’t want to see two men skating together … it’s their homophobia.”

“This is a white, cisgender, hetero sport,” she said."

Link

On the one hand, there is a necessity for it, on the other hand, it's quite a change in culture.

In principle I have no problem as long as a male/male couple has no advantage over a male/female couple in terms of athletics strength.

 

[VySky]

The conservative people don’t want to see two men skating together … it’s their homophobia.”

Here’s the main reason they want to do it

Anything to own the conservatives.

 

[Lisa]

Here’s the main reason they want to do it

Anything to own the conservatives.

Conservatives are self-pwning. Your reply is proof.

You should have read the OP first because you would have known that it is the lack of male skating partners that is driving this change. There are many more women than men, so instead the women want to pair up instead of not being able to skate in pairs competition because of the lack of a male partner.

 

[CLAX1911]

My only point regarding is the tradition of couples ice skating. How much will the financial loases be when many people stop buying tickets.

I haven't thought of that.

 

[BirdinHand]

Can’t say I see how the sex or gender of the partners in figure skating matters.

 

[j brown's body]

Here’s the main reason they want to do it

Anything to own the conservatives.

The good news here is that the couples would mostly likely be women, as there is a shortage of men. Homophobes don't mind watching women touch. In fact they might like it.

 

[VySky]

Conservatives are self-pwning. Your reply is proof.

You should have read the OP first because you would have known that it is the lack of male skating partners that is driving this change. There are many more women than men, so instead the women want to pair up instead of not being able to skate in pairs competition because of the lack of a male partner.

That’s what “they” say. But the reason I gave is the core reason why.

 

[VySky]

The good news here is that the couples would mostly likely be women, as there is a shortage of men. Homophobes don't mind watching women touch. In fact they might like it.

Are you speaking from experience?

 

[j brown's body]

Are you speaking from experience?

Its in the op, with the intention of informing people.

 

[Taylor]

Why?

 

[Lisa]

That’s what “they” say. But the reason I gave is the core reason why.

Is that because you said so?

 

[bomberfox]

Same sex ice dancing? Sign me up! There shouldnt even be a demand to cross dress.

 

[CLAX1911]

Can’t say I see how the sex or gender of the partners in figure skating matters.

Well it's kind of like why men don't compete in the WNBA.
If you wanted to have two male figure skaters together they are going to have a physical and agility based people do not advantage over a male and female pair or two female pair. Cannot run again so then we need to have three divisions of figure skating.

 

[Maccabee]

Why?

Why not?

 

[bythoughts]

I think the answer here is a pretty clear de facto no. I don't say this out of any malice toward same-sex couples. It's an athletic contest. How do you score a contest where one person can lift up the other and throw her against one where the two are equal mass? I put it to the AI and it said usually to be successful the women have to be under 110 pounds. That's not fair, and neither is this, but sports is all about unfairness. You could formally allow same-sex couples to compete, and sometimes they'll be different in mass to the point of having some chance, but they would never make it far. It seems more useful to think of a way to make skating entertaining as an artistic event without competition first, then invite them to join the performance.