Policy vs LD Series Part 2: Gender (and partnerships)

By: Jaya Nayar

This is the 2nd article in a series about the differences between Policy and LD.

Here are the links to the other 3 articles: 

https://www.girlsdebate.org/general-resources-1/2020/1/24/qmd5j6dobirmt5mofgich281kszmv8

https://www.girlsdebate.org/general-resources-1/2020/2/6/policy-vs-ld-series-part-3-speech-format

https://www.girlsdebate.org/general-resources-1/2020/2/13/policy-vs-ld-series-part-4-research-2

Gender

For me, gender issues and the question of whether or not I’m debating with a partner have been intricately intertwined. 

Policy benefits: As a woman, I’ve really appreciated the ability to debate with a partner. While debating alone in LD, I was placed in many uncomfortable situations. In my experience, when you’re alone with another debater or judge in the room, even if the door is open, they may take that as an invitation to make inappropriate advances or comments because there is no one else there. That used to happen to me all the time. Since debating with a partner, I haven’t been placed in any of those situations, presumably since there’s another person there to hold the other debater/judge accountable for what they say. Having a partner has even made a huge difference regarding something as simple as walking from room to room. Walking alone around an unfamiliar, massive college campus at night can be really scary. It’s been very comforting to always have someone with me. 

LD benefits: At the same time, partnerships themselves often have gender issues. Women will frequently be spoken over by their male partners during cross-examination (and even in speeches), and will be treated as the lesser debater merely because of their gender. For many gender minorities, having a partner takes a psychological toll on them and is a reason they would prefer an individual model of debate, like LD, over Policy.