“If You Don’t Mind My Asking…”
Student-athletes are often asked multiple questions to participate in a sport. These are mostly standard questions about physical and mental health. However, some of the questions are aimed directly at females. On the Florida High School Athletic Association’s physical evaluation form, this section is labeled optional. However, even though this may seem routine, many students and parents are concerned with the potential implications of these questions in a post-Roe Florida.
The main reason is due to recent events, such as it being seen by some as an effort to “weed out” transgender females from playing a given sport. The other major event surrounding the issue is the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe V. Wade. The overturning of Roe V. Wade made abortion illegal 15 weeks after conception. The suspicions come from the possibility that the government could use the data to track females’ menstrual cycles. Although this form may seem minor and irrelevant, it raises concerns for many students' privacy and confidentiality.
“This is information that should be between a doctor and a patient. ”
There are many different reactions to the five seemingly simple questions: When was your first menstrual period? When was your most recent menstrual period? How much time do you usually have from the start of one period to the start of another? How many periods have you had in the last year? What was the longest time between periods last year?
Junior Malena Edu drives for a goal in a lacrosse game. Eagle Talon Archive
These questions surprised some students, especially after the 41 normal questions that all students are required to answer.
"This is information that should be between a doctor and a patient," Palm Beach County School Board member Alexandria Ayala said.
Many other school board members across Florida share this concern. Jane Goodwin, a member of the Sarasota County School Board, agreed that the questions were invasive and should be removed.
“Putting women under the microscope as opposed to men. I mean, really? Do we need more of that?” Goodwin said in an interview with Palm Beach Post reporter Katherine Kokal. “I think this is an antiquated issue that shouldn't be on any form, and it has nothing to do with participation in sports.”
Many students also have strong reactions to these questions, especially after hearing the other, more reasonable questions.
FHSAA Physical EL02 Form
“I was caught off guard a bit,” IB junior Juliana Leach, who plays golf, said after being asked the questions. “I probably wouldn’t feel very comfortable answering these questions unless it was a doctor [who was asking].”
Many students share this discomfort in being asked the same questions. One junior, Ezgi Yigit, who does Taekwondo out of school, said that she would most likely react with a disgusted face, and she wouldn’t feel comfortable answering if they weren't for medical purposes.
“I think that honestly, it’s no one’s business,” IB junior Laya Newell shared. “I’d be angry and sort of offended because it's not their business and at this age. Our periods aren’t regular either.”
Junior Marilyn Acevedo shared that she felt as though it was an invasion of privacy. “I don’t do sports and I wouldn’t answer the questions if I was in sports, and I wouldn’t want them to track [my answers].”
In response to the questions being for student-athletes, Yigit shared her understanding of the situation.
“I’d answer them just so they know I'm healthy and strong because girls who tend to not have consistent periods tend to have health issues,” she said.
After sharing the potential implications of these questions being used to “weed out” transgender females and the possibility of tracking menstrual cycles, there were quite a few reactions.
“I think that’s terrible! Why should they ask such personal questions?” Acevedo said. “Their job is to have the kids play the sport.”
Newell said that it didn’t matter if the student was a boy or a girl in high school, what matters is if the student wants to play.
“They shouldn’t have a say in this, my body my choice.”
