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Section One: The Fundamentals
A) History and Context
Exercise 1: Notebook Prompt
| One surprising aspect of this discussion is the historical use of “nude parades” and later chromosome testing to verify the eligibility of women in sports. The idea that female athletes had to prove their womanhood, while men were never subjected to similar scrutiny, demonstrates the deep-rooted sexism in sports. Additionally, the fact that concerns over trans athletes today mirror past anxieties about women’s participation in general suggests that these debates are not just about fairness but also about controlling who gets to compete. Katie Barnes’ reflection on what sports might look like if integration had been prioritized rather than separation is very thought-provoking, raising the question of whether gendered divisions in sports are truly necessary or simply a reflection of outdated norms. |
B) Timeline of History
Exercise 2: Notebook Prompt
What other significant case/milestone would you add to this timeline? Note it in your notebook along with a brief (one or two sentences) explanation of why you feel it is important.
| The timeline of sex testing in women’s sports reveals a troubling pattern of policing female athletes’ bodies. Starting with invasive “nude parades” before 1968, the practice evolved into chromosome testing to verify athletes’ sex and ensure they were “real” women. This continued with the creation of “gender passports” to regulate eligibility in women’s competitions. Notably, men were never subjected to such scrutiny, reinforcing the assumption that women were not athletic threats to men. This history underscores the deep-rooted sexism and control over women’s participation in sports. |
C) Gender coding in Sports
Exercise 3: Notebook Prompt
Has the gendering of sport ever been a constraint on your involvement? How?
Or, if not, why do you think this is?
| The gendering of sport has, in many ways, created barriers for many individuals, even if it has not directly impacted me. For instance, the separation of sports into male and female categories can limit opportunities for those who do not directly fit into these binary distinctions, such as non-binary or transgender athletes. Additionally, the societal pressure to conform to certain gender norms in sport can discourage people from participating if they don’t feel that they match the typical expectations of femininity or masculinity. For some, this can create a sense of exclusion or self-doubt, making them less likely to engage in sports at all. The idea of integrating sports competitions, as mentioned in the module, could help break down these barriers and create a more inclusive environment for all athletes, regardless of gender. |
D) How is sport gendered in the popular imagination?
Exercise 4: Padlet/Notebook Prompt
While most sports are in fact unisex, gender coding remains pervasive, particularly at the professional level, although with a foundation established in youth competition. Participate in the poll below to share your views on how popular sports are gendered in the popular imagination. Also feel welcome to add or suggest sports that you feel strongly conform to the gender binary!
After you contribute to the padlet prompt, record your response in your notebook AND briefly discuss in two or three sentences how these responses and the polling figures in general confirm or contradict your assumptions about gender-coding and sports. Did anything surprise you?
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Section Two: Breaking it down
A) Title IX
Exercise 5: Notebook Prompt
In a longer version of the interview excerpted in the video above, Leah Thomas states “Trans women competing in women’s sports does not threaten women’s sports as a whole because trans women are a very small minority of all athletes and the NCAA rules around trans women competing in women’s sports have been around for 10+ years and we haven’t seen any massive wave of trans women dominating”?
Do you agree with this statement? See also the image above suggesting that the issue may be overblown by politicians and influencers who don’t actually care that much about women’s sports.
Please share any thoughts you have in your Notebook by clicking on the audio button above or writing a few sentences.
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B) Unfair Advantage?
Exercise 6: Notebook Prompt
What does the host and writer, Rose Eveleth, have to say on the issue of unfair advantage?
Can you think of other examples of unique biological or circumstantial advantages from which athletes have benefitted enormously that have nothing to do with gender?
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Again, let’s turn to Katie Barnes who points out that we tend to forget amidst all the debate that “sports, by design, are not fair” (235), that “the reality of sports is that we accept unfairness all the time” (235).
Do you agree? Why? In your experience, how fair are sports? Feel welcome to add a video response in the padlet and provide an example if you’re willing. Make sure you include a screenshot of your response in your notebook.
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B) The Paris Olympics
Optional Response:
What does Robins mean when she argues that:
“The aims of transvestigating an Olympic athlete are not, in any meaningful sense, anything to do with sports, or fairness, or even with women (cis women, at least) as a social category. Rather, they have everything to do with transness, and the public expression of transfemininity.
For my money this has never been about sport.
What it has always been is an excuse to publicly relitigate the existence of trans women.”
Make a note in your Notebook.
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