In an increasingly politically correct society, judging gender discrimination is increasingly difficult. It’s unfortunate that it is even an issue, but it certainly was for Geraldine Fuhr.

After losing a bid for a boy’s varsity basketball head coaching position, Fuhr took the Hazel Park School District to court. The all-female U.S. District Court jury awarded her $455,000 in damages.

The school district is expected to appeal, while Fuhr is also pushing for the district to cover her legal costs and give her the coaching position.

Fuhr has 16 years of coaching experience and served as the retiring coach’s assistant.

The district argues Fuhr’s coaching record for the varsity girls’ team was inadequate, her empty position as girl’s varsity coach would mean difficulty hiring a new coach and giving Fuhr the boy’s team position would send the message that the district favors boys’ sports.

Instead of giving her the position, they offered it to the other applicant, John Barnett.

Admittedly, the district’s reasons for denying Fuhr for the job seem sound, but upon closer inspection, they don’t hold up.

Fuhr’s record coaching junior varsity and freshman boys may not have been perfect, with 86 wins and 34 losses, but compared to Barnett’s, it’s outstanding. During two years coaching freshman boys basketball, Barnett racked up a grand total of six wins and 36 losses - ouch. Just to clarify, Barnett won 14 percent of his games, Fuhr won 72 percent.

As for the hiring excuse, it doesn’t hold much water. Fuhr and Barnett both held coaching positions in the same school, so no matter which one they hired, they still would have to fill one empty position.

Then there’s the problem of favoring boys’ sports. It’s debatable whether hiring a woman as a boys’ varsity coach would constitute favoritism. It’s not debatable that most schools already favor boys’ sports for other reasons. Schools put boys’ football and basketball on Friday nights, bringing out the whole town. They have cheerleaders and concessions are sold. In short, the boys bring in the money - no wonder the schools like them.

Still, $455,000 seems a little high for damages. Now, Fuhr is paid $80,000 a year for teaching and coaching the varsity girls and junior varsity boys basketball teams. The money the jury awarded her could hardly have been meant to pay for lost wages.

Fuhr got pretty lucky with her jury. With all eight members being women, they could hardly have been unbiased. Because Fuhr was supported by the school’s principal and athletics director, it’s hard to find a good excuse for her rejection. For lack of better evidence, all signs point to discrimination, although it’s very difficult to know for sure.

It shouldn’t, but sex certainly plays a role in sports. Despite the equality of numbers in sports, the field is dominated by men’s games.

It’s quite common for men to coach girls’ sports, unconcerned about the comfort of the players. This case shouldn’t be any different.

It’s embarrassing that we should even have to argue over gender discrimination. Hopefully Hazel Park schools can think progressively and resolve this in a civil manner.