If we are going to pretend, why not go all the way.
If all sports were co-ed and the best players actually started, then we would cease seeing women at any upper level of athletics.
The best women tennis players in the world could not make the top 100 with men.
Track and field numbers aren't even close.
What is the harm in allowing women to play up? It depends. When that allowance encourages young men to treat women with a high level of aggression, there is a great deal of societal harm done. Out in the real world, 99% of women are going to be weaker than 90% of men. We shouldn't pretend that because one 4th grader plays better than one 8th grader, that it is OK to throw both grades into the mix.
Its amazing how much preferential treatment is required to ensure equality. What do you tell girls like this? "Sorry, but there aren't enough girls interested in football to have a team, let alone a league. We also do not provide any opportunities for you in any other exotic sporting desire."
Well, the trend has been to have separate divisions, and I guess that would continue. The occasional girl who wants to play with the boys doesn’t seem to be a big problem. Those stories crop up every now and then.
We could have NCAA women’s football, I suppose. With a pro league.
Profits in pro and college sports no longer seem to be related to attendance, so few spectators shouldn’t be a problem, if that’s the case.
Would people watch women’s college football? I would guess enough would. Women’s soccer is fairly popular.