A leading American feminist group is coming under fire for advocating for the inclusion of trans athletes in women’s sports.
The National Organization for Women (NOW) shared an article on
The post read: ‘Repeat after us: weaponizing women against other women is white supremacist patriarchy in action. Making people believe there isn’t enough room for trans women in sports is white supremacist patriarchy at work.
The post received more than 2,000 comments, many of which were from angry women who said the organization no longer represented them.
One user said: ‘You don’t support women. You no longer represent us… You are the patriarchy and we reject you… We will not support you.’
Another said: “You don’t have to think you represent women.”
One user tweeted: ‘Simply amazing that the organization that fought for WOMEN’S rights is now fighting to allow men to subjugate them again. Simply incredible.’
Dozens added that NOW is a ‘traitor to women’ that needs to change its name because it no longer supports women.
Critics say that advocating that trans women (people who were born men but now identify as women) be able to compete alongside biological women is actually patriarchy.
One X user wrote: ‘Women’s sports were created to create a space for women where there was none and now you’re defending the infiltration of that space by men. ‘Making space’ for men means that (women’s) space disappears.’
Another said that being a woman was actually “not wanting men in our spaces.”
One user tweeted: ‘There is enough room for trans women in sports as long as they compete fairly in the correct sex category. They are men, not women.
NOW was founded in 1966 and has more than 550 local chapters throughout the United States. It is one of the largest feminist organizations in the country with approximately 500,000 members.
The group has been behind multiple historic changes in the women’s movement, including helping women gain equal access to public places by protesting against men-only clubs and establishments.
It was the first national organization to endorse the Equal Rights Act and has helped enact numerous laws regarding violence, harassment, and discrimination against women.
The organization had made the statement in the tweet along with a link to an Associated Press article about college athletes suing the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The lawsuit, filed by 16 student-athletes, accuses the NCAA of violating the Title IX rights of female competitors.
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in any educational institute or activity that receives federal financial assistance.
The law requires schools to provide equal opportunities to girls and boys in sports programs.
In a lawsuit filed by 16 student-athletes, they accuse the NCAA of violating the Title IX rights of female competitors.
University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines (pictured) is one of 16 female athletes in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit highlights a specific case involving Lia Thomas (pictured), a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer who had previously competed in men’s swimming, and Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer.
The athletes specifically accuse the NCAA of violating Title IX by allowing a transgender athlete, Lia Thomas, to compete in national championships in 2022.
The lawsuit stems from a January 2022 ruling by the NCAA that allowed transgender athletes to compete in the category of their affirmed gender on a sport-by-sport basis.
The organization said its decision “preserves opportunity for transgender student-athletes while balancing fairness, inclusion and safety for all who compete.”
The lawsuit highlights a specific case involving Thomas, a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer who had previously competed in men’s swimming, and Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer.
The two had tied for fifth place in a swimming event, but the lawsuit alleges that an NCAA official told Gaines that only Thomas would be allowed to stand on the podium and hold the trophy.
Gaines alleged that the official said: “I’m very sorry, we have been informed that when photographs are taken it is crucial that Lia Thomas holds the trophy.”
The lawsuit states: “The secret to Thomas’s meteoric rise and dominance in NCAA women’s swimming was maintaining the men’s advantage.”
She added: ‘(The plaintiffs) bring this case to guarantee future generations of women the promise of Title IX that the NCAA is denying them and other college women.’
In a statement, the NCAA said it does not comment on pending litigation.