Rationale and FAQs

WOMEN IN DEBATE BY THE NUMBERS

We let the facts speak for themselves.

.2

Less speaker points, on average, than male counterparts

<20%

Women in the top 100 of NPTE rankings

<20%

Forensics directors who are women

2

Number of female-female teams that broke at 2015 NPTE

3

female-female teams in top 32 of the 2016 NPTE

25

teams with any girls on them of 57 in the 2015 NPDA championship

Read more at 

https://issuu.com/speechanddebate/docs/2017_winter_rostrum_web/44.

FAQS

Find the answers to most commonly asked questions here!

DO I HAVE TO BE A WOMAN OR GIRL TO ATTEND?

Are you policing this?

The short answer is, if you identify with the statements above, and navigating debate and the world at large as a feminine-identifying or afab person, then this tournament is for you. If that is not your experience, it would not be. Male chaperones or adult presence will have a virtual lounge during the tournament but are not welcome as part of the forum or other events. We will not be policing those that enter but trust registrants to know whether this is an appropriate space for them.

WHY NO MEN?

Are we man haters?

Nearly the entire world is open to men. They have access to spaces and power that many of us never can enjoy. The conversation and experience is entirely different with them in the space. The point is to carve out a safe place for discussion and networking and to provide a much needed place where we can be the dominant voice for once in debate. We hope you understand that while we don't hate men, there are times when their voices are actually counterproductive and this is one of them.

CAN I JUST COME AND OBSERVE?

I don't do the events listed and am not comfortable learning in a short time, but this sounds cool!

Absolutely! We will post the link to the NSDA Campus tournament and you may observe and take part in our panel discussions. We highly encourage observers, particularly middle school girls interested in doing high school debate! That said, we prefer no amab observers, please see the section above.