Can a level playing field exist when athletes transition genders? What are the real costs of winning when the rules are changed in the game? As a female who plays sports, men should not compete in women’s sports, especially transgender men. Men are biologically stronger than women so when a man is competing against women they have a way higher chance of winning so it would not be a fair competition. Men outperform women when it comes down to ability and physical activity. Not only should men not compete in women sports but women should not compete in men sports also, it should go both ways. Men should not compete in women's sports due to their physical differences. The deliberation over transgender participation in women’s sports is sparked …show more content…
“If you go through puberty, you have all of the benefits of having a male body. Even if you transition and reduce your testosterone, you’re still going to have those benefits” (Mackenzie 17). This quote provides insight into how Peyton Mackenzie feels about this topic. She is conversing about the physical advantages that a biological male, assigned at birth, may maintain even after transitioning, due to going through male puberty. It is often alluded to in debates about transgender athletes in sports. As the consultation on gender identity and sports intensifies, a striking source quote brings to light a contentious issue. This quote challenges society to examine the intersection of diversity and fairness within competitive sports. “Among the casualties of the woke transgender ideologies are the biological women whose athletic records are being shattered and whose accomplishments are being overshadowed by biological males pumped with female hormones” (Duncan …show more content…
The involvement of transgender athletes in competitive sports raises many individuals questioning the fairness and criteria for diversity. Muller is expressing how he does not grind words when weighing in on the argument in which he displays a specific detail. “Thomas, yet another biological male pretending to be a female, dominated the race, even setting a season record within the NCAA for that year” (Muller 10). This quote demonstrates trans athlete, Thomas, who biologically is a male but transitioned into a female and then competed in women’s sports and set records. Muller’s view seems crucial to Thomas’s participation, implying an unfair advantage due to Thomas’s biological genes. However, Shields brings a certain outcome more personal by sharing a more passionate moment. “She witnessed a fellow competitor finish 17th in a race that Thomas dominated, narrowly missing the chance to be an All-American and to compete in the consolation race” (Shields 10). This is echoing in the specific athlete who came close to a huge achievement that got taken away due to the competitiveness in
When a woman or man joins a non-traditional sport for their gender or sex, it can have drastic social and cultural costs. These impact not just the individual but also the entire community. When a person challenges the gender roles of society, then they change the perceptions of what men or women are capable of doing, they further androgynize cultural norms, and they open up sports for others.
Her ideas challenged my previous opinion in that I believed that in order for a transgender athlete to play for their non-biological sex was solely to undergo a complete sex. Prior to researching this topic, I was unaware of other methods such as hormone therapy that were available to transgender athletes. Through Castillo’s informative article, I was able to understand that other options are available in order to maintain the fairness and equality throughout athletics. While Castillo argues that transgender athletes must complete at least one year of hormone therapy, Canadian Blogger, Keph Senett, argues otherwise. In her essay, “Where Do Transgender Athletes Fit Into Sports?” which was published in newsletter Matador Network, Senett argues that transgender athletes must complete a full sex change before even considering competing for the opposite sex. Senett’s article did not add much more to my original opinion, nor did it challenge it in any
Girls are told to stay indoors and play with their dolls or bake, while boys are encouraged to go outdoors, get dirty, and be adventurous. Wade and Ferree also state “sports are squarely on the masculine side of the gender binary” (Wade and Ferree, 174). Hence, we are brought up with the understanding that playing and talking about sports is a boy’s thing, which further promotes the notion that sports are a very masculine thing. Furthermore, as playing sports is competitive and is a way to show excellence, young boys are considered as “real boys” and “real men” later on. However, when boys do not talk about or play sports, they are considered feminine or “not real men.” The same rule applies for young girls. If young girls are too into sports, they are considered to be “too masculine.” This is true for me too. When I was younger, I was told to not play too much outdoors and to behave “like a girl.” The stigma that only boys should be allowed to play sports and it is not a feminine thing needs to be erased for us to welcome a more gender-equal
In the world of sports, it is fairly obvious that people have experienced many costs, including insults, ridicule, and lack of acceptance, but the benefits gained are much more vital to sports and the future of athletics. Competing in sports that are non-traditional to one's gender can only make society stronger, and our culture more unified.
After-school athletics is typically presented as a productive outlet for students to engage with one another and learn within a team environment. However, through an intersectional lens it should be taken into question whether playing sports is enjoyable or even possible without reaping the benefits of gender, heteronormative, and numerous other privileges. Reflecting on my own personal experience of playing high school basketball, I take a closer look as to how it was shaped by the many facets of intersectionality and privilege. In analyzing my experience, I will argue why sports is a constant force in reproducing gender binaries and oftentimes baneful to those who do not conform to heteronormativity.
Gender discrimination is prominent in every industry, but it is as though the sport industry is one of the worst. Women in the work force currently receive only 80 cents to every man’s dollar (Holmes, 2016). However, female athletes both in America and internationally receive a far lesser compensation for their attributes. The only difference of the sports being played is who plays them. There should be no reason why a male athlete receives better pay simply because he had a 50% chance of being born a man. At birth, no one controls the gender, but as they grow and mature, they control their personality and development. Payment should be on personal skills and not gender. As a female STHM student focusing on sport management and a former athlete,
Gender in sports has been a controversial issue ever since sports were invented. In the early years, sports were played only by the men, and the women were to sit on the sidelines and watch. This was another area of life exemplifying the sexism of people in which women were not allowed to do something that men could. However, over the last century in particular, things have begun to change.
Many people in society argue about the unfairness of transgenders competing in sports. Transgenders should be able to be on the sports team that matches their gender identity with medical documents proving they have gender dysmorphia. Many other athletes would argue that transgenders being able to compete in sports is unfair. A transgender woman who has higher levels of testosterone than the other women might seem to have an advantage over the other female athletes. Transgender women might have a little bit of an advantage, but they truly feel as if they are women, so they should be able to compete as women.
For most of human history, athletic competition has been regarded as an exclusively masculine affair. Women weren't aloud to watch most sporting events let alone participate in them. Not till late 19th century did women really begin participating in sporting events. Although women were permitted to participate in many sports, relatively few showed interest, for a variety of social and psychological reasons that are still poorly understood. Title IX declares: "No person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal aid." Therefore sex should not deem females athletic ability as inferior in comparison to men. Women are physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of playing any sport just as men are.
The concept of hegemonic masculinity, as described by R. W. Connell, is becoming more applicable than ever, namely in the world of sport. This notion was developed nearly twenty-five years ago, yet remains highly influential in the social construction of gender roles. In current Western societies, there is an automatic assumption that women involved in sports are all lesbians, and men posses more masculine traits than one who is not involved in sports. This double standard emphasizes the inequalities within the athletic community. The emphasis on masculinity brings forth different consequences for men and women, where men are regarded as strong and powerful, while women are intrinsically seen as more masculine (Baks & Malecek,
With the introduction of transgender people into athletics, the landscape of women’s sports is greatly changing. In some cases, biologically female athletes are coming in second in athletic events in which they compete alongside transgender athletes. These individuals were assigned female at birth and now identify as male. The reality of many biologically female athletes is that competing against people who were once male puts them at a severe disadvantage. The debate over whether transgender female athletes should be permitted to compete according to their gender identity is a complex issue.
Gender inequality in the United States is a serious problem, and it is often overlooked. It is a big issue, especially within sports. We live in a society where our culture prefers men 's sports over women 's. Labeling activities as feminine and masculine is a social construction based on stereotyped expectations regarding gender and perceived gender differences (McCullick, 2012). In 1972 Title IX was passed stating that, no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. This opened up athletics to women and girls (Education Amendment Act of 1972, 1972). Although
Toxic masculinity in sports culture has created a restricted and harmful environment for LGBTQ+ athletes, contributing to homophobia, transphobia, and a lack of representation. However, increased visibility, representation, and support from athletes and activists are challenging these norms and promoting more inclusion and equity in sports. Toxic masculinity has been a common issue in sports culture, creating an environment that is often hostile and exclusionary towards LGBTQ+ individuals. Homophobia and transphobia are very common in the sports world, and many athletes fear coming out due to the potential consequences. Additionally, the lack of representation and visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals in sports perpetuates harmful stereotypes and
Cis women athletes who want to compete in a professional level are not going to be given a fair chance to succeed and to work up to the top when transgender women who biologically have the body of a male are competing against them. A born male who identifies as a woman and competes as a woman who does not take any hormones makes the situation even more unfair because this means the transgender women competing as a woman has the body structure of man, same level of testosterone of a man, and strength of a man. The reason why this situation is such dilemma is because high schools clearly states that women are to compete in the women’s sports and men are to compete in the men’s sport but as to how genders are defined remains unclear. The book Transgender Athletes in Competitive Sports by Eric Anderson goes into depth about people have started to identify as transgender, the sport policies placed for transgender athletes, some background, and it is a new concept on how some people identify themselves. Consequently, it makes it difficult to know where to place transgender people when it comes to sports.
Ann, 2007, pg. 57), however this is not true. This mentality causes males to resent the female athletes, thus rendering it even more difficult for them to succeed. Without a shift in gender ideology, females will continue to face adversity, regardless of the amount of change that has occurred over the last 30 years. There does not need to be equality between the genders within sports, however equity must be seen, with the perception of the abilities that female athletes possess not being compared to that of males. This would aid males to not feel as threatened by females participating in sports and physical