2015/01/01 by Franklin Abad · 1 citation
Psychology · Social Sciences · #LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy #Doping in Sports #Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
paper · doi:10.1163/9781848883871_010
openalex publication_date 2015/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
Gender classification in sport has always been viewed in a black and white dichotomy. Competitors are often forced to participate as either men or women. However, there have been certain cases in sport where transgendered females partook in sporting events against female cisgender athletes. Cisgender athletes are those whose self-perception of their gender matches the sex they were assigned at birth. A major objective of this chapter is to examine arguments both for and against allowing transgendered female athletes to compete against female-born athletes. Cases wherein women were denied the opportunity to compete will be examined to provide parallels to the current plight of transgendered athletes. This chapter argues for the inclusion of transgendered female athletes in sport. In arguing for this position, ideas surrounding equal opportunity in sport will be explored and in the process, specific cases of transgendered athletes such as Renee Richards and Fallon Fox are highlighted. The chapter also considers the practice of denying transgendered females entry into women’s sport on the grounds that they retain the physiological advantages of men. Medical opinions regarding gender reassignment surgery, hormone therapy and brain imprinting in males are also considered in exploring the argument against female transgender participation in sports.