I haven't seen it - but if there's equity then the aim would not to be to separate out the contestants into two groups, rather create a set of competitions which fairly test across a spectrum of physical fitnesses. This might include strength tests but also agility and flexibility - and I think you said this happened.

Surely if these games are also included then there IS equity and over time this format would favour those men and women in the centre of the bell-curve - for the sake of argument this would be the strongest women and the most agile men. Say what you like about the average professional strongman, he's great at pulling trucks but he's shit at climbing walls.

I went and looked up the challenges and I think you've cherry picked how this article has been presented. Earlier challenges like the hanging challenge would equally favour smaller men and women, choices about where to hold death matches might mitigate against brute strength etc. There are some games which favour smaller framed people and some which favour bigger stronger people. The sex of those people is irrelevant.

What this gameshow did was show women competing with men and I think we need more of that - I don't think it's a metaphor for what it's like to be a woman in a man's world. I think it's a step in the right direction and showcases healthy respectful competition between the sexes is both achievable and necessary in this century. :o)