Next December 23 will be run in the Biscayan town of Basauri a new edition of its popular race, the Basauriko Herri Lasterketa, in its three distances: half marathon, 10 and 5 kilometers. It is a race organized by the Basque Athletics Federation and has today opened the registration period.
The test has jumped to social networks causing a cataract of reactions to have taken the decision, in a timely manner, not to charge for their participation to women. They, the runners, are charged twelve euros per registration. So much fuss has been made about this decision that the controversy has even reached television.
From the moment I saw that difference I took a stand against the decision. I do not go to events that award different prizes to men and women, which still exist today, nor do I intend to participate in an event that has a price for them and not for us.
In general, most of the women runners have been offended by the decision and some have even proposed to deposit the twelve euros that the registration fee costs in the federation's account. No, the participation of women in the races is not related to the price but to many other factors that I will detail.
But as I am a journalist and I know that before publishing something you have to talk to all parties in conflict, I have contacted the representatives of the Basque Athletics Federation to tell here the reason for the decision.
They defend their position, which they will maintain despite the criticism, as a measure of positive discrimination.
They understand this measure as a way to seek balance and to encourage minority groups that have been discriminated against, such as women, to have a greater presence in the races.
They say that in past editions, the number of women participants has been so low that they have not even been able to distribute the prizes. In the previous edition, only seven women participated and they decided to take action to increase our presence in the race.
They assure us that this is a one-off measure and that next year they will probably stop charging any other group than women.
A measure with good intentions but not very wise, according to Begoña Beristain.
Undoubtedly this decision was taken with the best of intentions. I have no doubt about that. Their objective era not to attract women as a lure to attract more men, which is what discotheques used to do in the past and which many have remembered when talking about this matter. Their intention era to grow the number of women in the race, but I think they have made a mistake. In this case, a measure that seeks equity provokes the rejection of those who consider it unfair to have to pay for something that we do not pay solely and exclusively because we are women. Many men have felt aggrieved with the measure and they are right. Women also do not feel comfortable when we are exempted from paying because of our sex and are granted the "privilege" (exemption from a tax that someone with authority grants to another in an exceptional way) of not paying.
I think this is not the way to encourage female participation in the race. Paying twelve euros or not paying is not going to cause women to come to Basauri. What we need to be able to be in a starting line is, for example, to have time to prepare the race.
Promoting co-responsibility in the couple, working for a greater and better distribution of household chores, encouraging men to stay with the children while the mother goes out to train or encouraging them not to have to worry about organizing their home before going to a race. Many women say that they do not go to races because either their partners go and they give up or because they feel overwhelmed by the home responsibilities that fall on their shoulders and prevent them from preparing well. That's where we have to make a difference.
Getting women to practice sports is a shared responsibility. The Basque Athletics Federation also has its part to play. How can it be done? With campaigns among its members, for example, in which they talk about the importance of dividing their time so that they can also train and compete. If a woman feels supported by her family and partner, it will be easier toattract her tothe races. The twelve euro registration fee is the least of it.
This issue has opened up an interesting debate between male and female runners. I have not heard any of them say how good it is that I don't have to pay to run in Basauri; on the contrary, I have heard many women say that they don't want such gestures that only provoke those less committed to equality to say that we already have what we want, privileges. In no case is that what we seek. We only work to achieve real equality that allows us to have time and a situation equal to that of men to enjoy our sport.
We thank the Basque Athletics Federation for having tried in this way, but we do not share it. To continue working for equality and for the presence of women in races that we can enjoy in real equality.
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