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Section One: The Fundamentals
A) History and Context
Exercise 1: Notebook Prompt
| In this episode, Rose Eveleth brought to light the story of Maximila Imali and the injustices she has faced in the world of sport. I hadn’t heard of the story before this podcast, and now learning it and understanding it, it provoked some thoughts. Firstly, Imalie faced a serious injustice, and quite obviously a violation of her body, when they brought her in to test her, although she was not aware of why, or how. She had been called for something that was said to be important, but no further explanation was given. When she arrived, they told her to get undressed, and once she was lying down, they spread open her legs and tested her physically. This a complete violation of privacy, as well as a violation of trust between patients and doctors. The fact that Imali did not find out what she was being texted for, untill weeks later when the tests came in. Furthermore, what I found to be especially thought provoking was the fact that Imani was told that the only way she could continue competing was if she literally changed her body. So, by the Olympic regulations it is alright for someone to go through surgery to bring hormone levels to what is expected for their sex assigned at birth, however, when trans individuals take hormone blockers, or take hormones, it is considered to be unfair. in my opinion, that is a crazy juxtaposition that is not talked about, and further proves why trans people should be allowed to compete in the Olympics as their preferred gender. |
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.
| I think Maximila Imali’s story was very compelling, and is further proof of the lack of diversity the Olympics allows when it comes to gender. Therefore, I would include the day Maximali Imali was not allowed to compete, much less, win. |
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?
| I find myself torn when answering this question because on one hand, yes gendering sport has been a constraint in my involvement, but not because of the rules or policies of the games I played. As a kid, my mom signed me up for every possible sport I could play in my area. The main ones being, soccer, hocker, softball, and swimming. While my soccer team was luck enough to have enough girls to make a team, I wasn’t as lucky when it came to hockey or softball. On both of my teams, I was the only girl. While the other boys, and my coaches, treated me with the same respect as the other boys, it felt very isolating being the only girl. When it came to hocker, it was a bit more intense. My first game I played, I was 6 years old, and I didn’t touch the puck once., although I tried. No one wanted to pass me the puck, and therefore, I quit after that season, and never looked back. Softball was different because everyone had a chance at bat, and everyone had a chance on the field. Plus, I was a great catcher, so I knew my spot was safe. So, we can see how there weren’t really any rules or regulations that prohibited me to play and thrive, but because of how these sports were gendered, many girls did not want to play, leaving me alone. I don’t blame them, because my experience with hockey was not great, and lessened my self-esteem considerably. Now, with the PWHL I think this could, and is, changing, making it more enticing for girls to participate in sports because they can see a future in it. |
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?
| Figure skating: Female., Rugby: Male, Tennis: Neutral, Swimming: Neutral, Cheerleading: Female, Softball: Male, Gymnastics: Female, Hockey: Male, Volleyball: Female, Basketball: Neutral, Power Lifting: Neutral, Soccer: Neutral and Football: Male
The polling mostly confirmed my assumptions about gender-coding and sports, however there were a few that didn’t. Firstly, for softball I chose neutral just because growing up everyone around me player softball, whether you were a boy or a girl. Also, for basketball, power-lifting and soccer, I also thought it to be neutral just because of my personal experiences. For example, I know many more female power-lifters then men. I think what the polls showed is when it referred to a contact sport, it was mainly thought to be more of a “male” sport. Equally, when it was something more “aesthetic” like cheerleading or figure skating, it was thought to be more female dominated. |
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.
| I completely agree with Leah Thomas, and would go even further to say that it comes from dangerous conservative discourse. Those who are fighting against transgender athletes do not care about sports, especially women’s sports, as much as they claim to. While they say they are trying to keep women’s sport safe and equal, they are simply using this notion to propagate transphobia. As Charlie Baker, the NCAA President stated, in this league he knows of less than 10 transgender athletes. Conservatives are blowing this idea of trans athletes taking over, when in fact there are very few at this time. |
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?
| In this episode, Rose Eveleth broaches the subject of “unfair advantages” in sport when it comes to DSD athletes. While the Olympic policies and regulations strongly work against DSD athletes to compete unless they lower their testosterone, Eveleth brings up many other unfair advantages within the world of sport that are simply accepted. One of the most well known examples of biological advantages within sports is Micheal Phelps. While he has a very long torso, and an even larger wingspan, his legs are much shorter, which Eveleth explains to be the prime for of a swimmer. Micheal Phelps is considered an icon and a legend within the sporting world—and it is completely deserved—however how does this biological advancement make him iconic, while women who have too much natural testosterone in their body to be a cheater? Further Eveleth brings up a more similar genetic advantage that was allowed, and was even praised. This is Eero Mäntyranta a Finnish cross country skier who had a genetic mutation called EPOR that allows the body to make more red blood cells, giving him more oxygen in his blood, perfect for a cross country skier. While he went on to win 7 medals, Max Imani and similar athletes are seen as cheaters, when there are other athletes that are allowed to compete. This podcast just proves the inherent transphobic narrative within olympic policies and regulations. It also shines a big bright light on the sexism within sports. There are so many other biological circumstantial advantages that exist such as Gheorghe Mureșan, a 7’7″ NBA player. Once again, he was allowed to play even with a significant advantage against his opponents. I mean, he doesn’t even need to shoot the ball, he is quite literally able to walk up to the basket, and drop it in without jumping. If women with more natural testosterone are not allowed to compete, don’t you think Phelps, Mäntyranta and Museran shoudl not be able to play? Once again, this shows the complete and utter systemic sexism within sport. |
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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Answer: In Favor— There is no question about whether sports are naturally unfair or not. They are naturally unfair, because if they were all fair, everyone would win gold, and that is simply not the case. The first thing that comes to mind is the reffing in the NHL, and the calls they do and don’t make. There are some times where the ref does not call a clear penalty due to personal bias, or perspective. Equally, there are sometimes where they believe the penalty to be worse than the players or the fans. While, sure, it can be frustrating it is the reality of sport. While this is a natural unfairness, I do find that there are some things that I find to be unfair that could easily be resolved. For example, the sexism that exists within sport. The NHL gets far better coverage than the PWHL. While the league is still new, there are constant sexist comments that are made about the wonderfully talented women on those 6 teams. Comment: I really liked how you incorporated the economic advantages that sport has, and how that often creates unfairness. Without economic stability it is very difficult to move socially within your sport. For example, if you cannot afford to pay to take trips to tournaments, or you cannot afford the new equipment, etc. There are so many economic factors that contribute to the unfairness in sport.
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