The reasoning goes like this: the sternum checker is obviously easier for taller individuals, and harder for shorter individuals. Men, on average, are taller than women. Hence, this obstacle is harder for women. Injustice! An average American male is 5'10, while an average American female is 5'5. So yes, men have a significant height advantage. But, unless this disadvantage is somehow female specific, we cannot claim gender discrimination. In this case, the sternum checker would also be easier for taller women (compared to shorter women), and harder for shorter men (compared to taller men). Some mentioned that having breasts puts one at a disadvantage, as it can be painful to slam the breasts into the log. That indeed would be a more female-specific variable, however I will dismiss that argument entirely for two reasons. 1. Height plays much more of a role in one' ability to tackle this obstacle than breasts. 2. Size of breasts would have to be taken into account, because, arguably, smaller breasts would be less problematic in this case. And then, if we take into account breast size, we might as well take into account femur length, the relative length of torso to legs, and million other things that are only marginally relevant to the discussion at hand. Also, do not forget that male racers have their own unique disadvantage. Two words: testicles + walls. Careful, gentlemen. Careful! Gender is then an extraneous variable that just happens to correlate with the actual variable of interest - height. Which brings us to the possibility of height discrimination.
Height discrimination refers to discriminatory treatment against individuals based on their height. Examples would include treating individuals based on their membership in a certain group and restricting individuals from opportunities that are available to another group. Excluding individuals based on height (or some other characteristics) is not necessarily a bad thing. Do I go to Laura Petites (women's clothing store) and complain that nothing fits me? Probably not. Athletics presents another interesting consideration, as certain amount of height (and other types of) discrimination is built into the very nature of sports. It is easier to shoot a basket if you are taller. And anyone, who claims otherwise, has never played basketball.It is then hardly a surprise that the average height in NBA is 6'7 (compare that to an average male at 5'10). Yet, we are not arguing that the basket should be lowered, every time a shorter player is about to take a shot. In obstacle racing, the walls are, of course, easier if you are taller. Because the arm-span is proportional to one's height, taller racers probably benefit on the rig and the monkey bars. Remember this?
