154. What Is a Woman? (Olympics Edition)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit smokeempodcast.substack.comNancy 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.