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Section One: The Fundamentals
A) History and Context
Exercise 1: Notebook Prompt
| The thing that Interested me most when exploring the history and context of sport and gender was the concept of Moral Panic. I am familiar with this concept, so I would not say I was suprised by it. However, from this modules perspective, I gained a different perspective on the topic which is super cool. In the module, it states that a moral panic is created by politicians over transgender people entering and taking over women sports, which has not occurred. This panic is spread by exaggerated and misleading narratives that present transgender athletes, particularly trans women, as a threat to fairness and integrity. Moreover, what I am most passionate about is the underlying focus this narrative has on female athletes capability and strength in sport. The reality is, transgender athletes make up such a tiny portion of athletes, which I myself did not know how few professional level anthletes there were, amongst all the online moral panic I have been exposed to. The vast majority of trans athletes are not dominating sports in any significant way. This moral panic, imposed to protect traditional, gender-segregated categories in sport, are framed as being based in the biological differences. However, this view overlooks the complexities of gender identities, variation in athletic performance, and the strict hormone regulations transgender athletes have that definitely contribute to their standings. The moral panic created around transgender athletes so often also creates panic about gender stereotypes and the ‘fragility’ of women. |
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 would add two particular milestones to this timeline. First, there is a gap in the timeline between 1960-1990 that could benefit from being acknowledged and is similar to the ones before and after in the timeline. In 1972, Title IX was enacted into the United States as a federal legislation that prohibited sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities. It also helped ensure that women were provided the same opportunities to participate in sports at schools and post-secondary programs. However, this milestone primarily benefit cisgender women. Title IX did lay the groundwork for gender equality in educational settings but did not explicitly address the needs of transgender individuals. The second milestone I would add also helps fill in the time gap on this specific graph. In 1988 the IOC introduced a mandatory sex verification test at the Souel Olympics, forcing stringent sex verification measures upon athletes as a method to ensure “fairness” in competition. This decision undermined the dignity and humanity of athletes and actively harmed transgender people.. These tests were based on the assumption that biological sex could easily be determined and should dictate the level of advantages the athlete could have. These policies reinforced a binary biological view of gender and sport.
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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?
| A great example of gendering in sport imposing a constraint on female athletes is Caster Semenya who we learned about earlier in th module. Caster faced such scrutiny and invasion as a naturally gifted athlete due to her high testosterone levels. I have not faced such extreme constraints, however I do wonder how much of a role hegemonic femininity played a role in my start as a dancer. I never was put in to hockey or soccer. Not that my mom was defining gender in sports, but I do wonder subconsciously if this played a role. Growing up, I really wished I had the opportunity to have tried playing hockey, but I am also so externally grateful I stuck to dance and dedicated a good chunk of my life to it. Dance is traditionally more feminine. In fact, I wonder if gendering in sport played a significant role in my male dance friend as well. Thinking about it now, during competition season having male dancers on your team meant having what the dance world calls “penis-points”. Judging would automatically score you higher for having a male dancers most often than not. This term reflected an unspoken bias. This concept is so complex to look back upon. Although male dancers definitely experience unfavourable biases, discrimination, discomfort, and scrutiny, they also (as men) experience being seen as advantages even if there skill level was on par with or lower than their female counterparts. This reinforces that in certain dance contexts (primarily at competitions rather than practices), hegemonic masculinity – or the overarching idea that. Male participation automatically adds value or prestige to a space – is implicitly rewarded. This specific dynamic is so interesting now that I am an adult and have sociological perspectives ingrained in my brain. It highlights how gender bias can exist in both directions; not only do feminine traits get penalized and confined to specific sports, but masculine traits can be commodified or valued more in traditionally feminine sports. Although these “penis-points”and judges recognition have been given in support of men trying traditionally more feminine sports, the implicit gender bias still lingers in their decisions. I love reflecting on this topic today and how subtle gender bias has influenced my experience in sport, as well as the broader system of invisibility and overvaluation depending on gender roles assigned to a particular sport or activity.
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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?
| Softball: I said neutral because a lot of my peers growing up did refer to softball as the “female baseball”. However, I do know it is a very unisex sport. I feel it is disheartening to call softball “female baseball” because there is an implication that baseball and “harder” sports are off limits to female athletes. There is so so much to unpack with the ideology I was seen paired with softball.
Gymanstics: I said female because gymnastics is typically female dominated. It makes me sad, because as a dancer, I would love to see more men in female dominated, more emotionally-founded sports. Male gymnastics has been trending recently which is positive! This past summer during the Paris Olympics, USA gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik won.a bronze medal in pommel horse for the US. Stephen then went on to be a finalist on the show Dancing With The Stars, proving to so many little boy that they too can participate in “female” coded sports.
Hokcey: I said Male dominated because I myself felt a hinderance from joining hockey. I know that now there is the PWHL in North America, so hockey is starting to break barriers and impose more unisex awareness. I am eager to see how female hockey starts to grow. I have loved seeing videos of little girls dancing, singing, screaming, and overall experiences hope at these PWHL games. It instills inspiration into so many little girls.
Volleyball: I said female. I feel this may be due to the fact it requires more leg strength which is typically a more female characteristic whereas men feel they need a stronger upper-body, and biologically do. I also wonder how much sexualization goes into the gender coding of the sport volleyball. Growing up , our highschool volleyball team for women was lusted after by the boys because of the players, and I quote, “Nice asses”.
Basketball: I feel this is a male dominated sport, especially considering majority of people feel women can not go professionally with it due to their height and power. Caitlin Clark has been breaking barriers and increased viewership in women’s basketball leagues.
powerlifting: I said male, mainly because of the gender stereotype of men being stronger and women not being able to or, a more conservative belief that they shouldn’t, life heavy. I think this has played a significant role in my athletic life. Growing up, anything heavy that needed to be dealt with, my family would call upon my little brother to assist rather than me because I was “weaker”.
Soccer: I think that soccer is a very neutral sport. I knew so many soccer players growing up both female and male. I think that soccer is one of the most unisex labeled sports.
Football: I knew one girl in my hometown on a football team during highschool. I also know many universities in Canada are now starting touch football leagues that eliminate econtact. However, football to me is a male coded sport because of its contact and aggression. I love the sport, and many other females are beginning to understand and enjoy it as well. However, even watching the sport arises feelings of disdain and annoyance from male viewers.
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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.
| I do agree with Leah Thomas’s statement, The fact that Trans women make up a small minority of athletes, compounded with the fact that the NCAA rules have been in place for over a decade without any significant problems shows that the typical nervousness and upset that trans women are dominating women’s sports are often displaced and overblown. The way issues are framed by certain politicians and influencers seems to be more concerned about using the topic as a way to gain support or push a particular agenda rather than focusing on the actual impact on women’s sports or women’s sports as important as a whole. In my opinion, the conversations about sport and gender should center more on ensuring proper fairness and inclusivity for all athletes, regardless of gender identity, and less on exaggerated fears or political talking points. The political is personal, and these debates reflect larger societal misunderstandings that put peoples lives into jeopardy. The tired gendered conversation of “us vs. Them” where transgender peoples are seen as threats needs to end. There needs to be a balance of respect of competitive nature of sports and the human dignity of those involved and ultimately, the foundation of sports should be focused on inclusion. In order to do this however, the entirety of sports |
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?
| “Sports are binary, gender is not.” (Eveleth, 2024). What is fair? Fair to whom? The question of fairness in sport is so complex as it exceeds discussion far beyond gender, touching on physical and circumstantial advantages or disadvantages that athlete possess. For example, an individual who has high vO2 max may have distinct advantage during endurance events such as cycling, running, or rowing. This traits is associated with genetics and conditioning, not gender. Similarly, ones wingspan and height can have play an important part in sports like basketball or swimming. Both sports require naturally taller individuals who often have mechanical advantages when reaching for the net or covering distance in stroke. While those two examples are more biological than circumstantial, the role of access to resources (Coaching, training, proper nutrition, facilities, equipment) can offer such huge advantages for athletes, but this is very independent to gender. While thinking of the various disadvantages sports can create or endure I then thought of the possibility that psychological aspects of sport contribute to success. Mental resilience, toughness, and ability to adapt are honed often by years of training and dedicated work. However, some times the pressure of a competition or sport can hinder mental agility. Those with tough mental health and emotional awareness have more beneficial circumstances and it is irrelevant to gendered discussions.
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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.
| I do agree with Katie Barnes’ assertion that, “Sports by design are not fair” (235). At the heart of every sport, there are inherent inequalities that can make or break an individuals experience with it. Whether the inequality between access to resources, physical differences between individual, and the unpredictability of human performance., the very nature of competition and sport often creates advantages and disadvantages, mimicking the larger systemic patterns we see in general society. I am really privileged to have experienced sports the way I did, infact I do not feel the unfairness of sport really impacted me in the same way it could have for others. I danced, so it was more of a collaborative sport, however my studio preached that practice, dedication, fun, and positivity where key to a successful time dancing. I was taught to cheer everyone on and take losses as lessons. However, my studio was a smaller, more family based studio and I know my other friends in dance did not experience the same “fairness” as I. For example, one of my friends could not afford to be in a mandatory conditioning class at her old studio and therefore was threatened to be off the team. Her financial inequalities almost cost her an entire dream and passion. At my studio, on the other hand, my dance teacher offered privately to bring a student old enough or a parent in to the studio as a cleaner or administrative assistant in order to “pay” for class fees in case parents could not afford her lesssons, which she did in hopes of creating a supportive environment. While this was a generous solution, it is still an example of inequality. Not every family could take on this kind of arrangement, especially if they are struggling already to afford classes. The element of unfairness continues to get more complicated though; how many people could she realistically have added to “help”? While one or two students or parents may be able to assist without financially impacting the studio, it could quickly become unprofitable for the studio. Moreover, it may have created a competition within the studio environment, how did my teacher decide who she could ‘help”. While I believe it was based on need and done out of the pureness of her heart, it created an unintentional hierarchy that could have been avoided. So, overall, I feel that sports and inequality are inherently connected, in so many complex and often unintentional ways.
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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.
| The term “transvestigating” refers to the practice of obsessively evaluating and questioning the belonging of a trans person ( specifically trans women) in women’s sports. Transvestigating is a moral panic. This is done by speculating about the individuals past invasively and their physical characteristics. Robin identities that this speculation is not done out of genuine care or curiosity, it is not about whether a trans woman has “unfair” advantages in sport, but it is about challenging the very identity of the individual as a woman – the focus is on femininity and how transness challenges an established societal norm about gender. It is clear that Robin does not believe that the scrutiny given to trans women athletes is not at all about concerns about the integrity of the sport or the fairness for cisgender women, but instead it has always reflected a systemic societal discomfort with transgender existence; with ‘uncommon’ individuality. At the root of this issue is transphobia, the deep seated discomfort of trans people, especially transfeminine people. By creating moral panic about the specifics and unfair aspects of trans participation in women’s sports, we are using the debate as proxy for a larger, unresolved cultural battle about gender, identity, and the definition of a woman.
Side tangent : this is so unbelievably infuriating to me as a cis-gendered woman. I am so furious that the conversation can never be about the actual problems, there has to always be a scape goat, in this case it is trans-feminine people who already face so much harm and violence. I am so fed up ( especially in todays current political climate) with how women’s s a whole are never actually cared for and this is a perfect example of how. Women always have been seen as dolls – puppets on a thin and short line – controlled and manipulated by societal expectations. We are told who we should be, how we should look, what we are capable of, and how we should behave ( we even do it to eachother!), all while our real, everyday struggles are downplayed or outright ignored. Not to mention, when you speak out about issues that directly impact women (issues that sure as hell do not involve transgender souls), the conversation is often derailed by manufactured culture wars, like the one about trans women in sports. It makes it so that we lose sight of what we are supposed to be fighting for, it makes it so that we feel exhausted with the about of battles we have to face.
I am listening to the song Digital Silence by Peter McPoland as I write this – maybe that is where this tangent came from – but I really feel the song can relate to this topic of moral panic, patriarchy, and also politicians/media that we are discussing here. Specifically the chorus, “Why don’t you get it? Can’t you get it? Understand., They’re gonna execute the mother to elevate the man,.They’re going to propagate the killer, eliminate the youth. They’re gonna blind sate everyone until you love them too.” (McPoland, 2023). (I could write a whole thesis on it! It applies to so many topics: gun violence, politicians, capitalism, environmentalism, social media). Here is my interpretation of the lyrics, but I truly recommend listening to this song: The song lyrics offer a really powerful critique of systemic control, manipulation, and moral panic. The song critiques patriarchal reinforcements of roles and conditioning. The line I specifically love in this context is, “They’re gonna blind date everyone till you love them too.” This is a metaphor for manipulation and moral panic. I believe it refers to the idea of the public being fed a manufactured idea or narrative without being fully informed about the compelxtitiies or truth behind the situation.
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