Sticking to your guns is a really stupid thing to do if your guns are unloaded, or more appropriately, sticking to your principles makes no sense if your principles are stupid.
My question to you is, who gets to decide which principles are stupid - the people that hold them or the mob?
I remember as a member of the novice men’s Crew team what an absolute JOY it was to FINALLY be faster than the women’s JV team! We were a lot taller and stronger than they were - but they rowed more efficiently - and thus achieved a higher speed.
They LOVED beating us. It showed them the power of all working together efficiently. We LOVED it when they couldn’t beat us any longer - because our rowing skill finally allowed us to efficiently apply our greater strength.
A real treat was when I got to row with the women. They keep and even keel. Like nothing I had ever experienced in a men’s boat. Lower center of gravity - better control - it was a real treat to row from such a stable ‘platform’.
I couldn’t imagine for a second not competing with those women who I loved adored and respected - out of supposed “respect”. What patronizing garbage.
Sort of like “I respect the role of women in the home too much to ever hire one for a job” - THAT kind of “respect”.