preview

The World Of Athletics Has Been Built Around A Binary View

Better Essays

The world of athletics has been built around a binary view of gender. The distinction between genders is obvious: there is women’s sport and there is men’s sport. However, in reality, gender biology is not black and white – there is a multitude of ways to be human. The separation of men’s and women’s sport leads to a large population of athletes getting stuck in the middle. There is a growing social acceptance of transgender and intersex individuals in society, however, when it comes to sport these individuals are often left isolated on an island of controversy. The majority of this controversy surrounds the debate of whether or not transgender and intersex females should be allowed to compete in women’s sports. Society does not have a …show more content…

It means we must be open to its permutation, in the name of nonviolence.” (Butler) . This practice would help support the reality of transgender and intersex people. We must, as a society, realize that gender is not black and white, but rather it comes in a multitude of shades. If someone does not fit in the traditional categories of gender it does not mean that they are inhumane - they are humans who deserve equal rights to those in the majority. In order for transgender athletes to be given an equal opportunity to pursue their athletic goals we must first reconstruct our notions about gender to create a society that accepts intersex and transgender individuals as equal counterparts. Transgender females identify as women and should therefore be allowed to compete as women. Actively excluding transgender and intersex women from competing in women’s sport, the gender they identify with, would be a step in the wrong direction for both intersex and transgender rights. The primary opposition to the allowance of transgender and intersex females in women’s sport, argues that these individuals should be excluded because they are not ‘real’ women. Sex segregation in sport exists because it ensures fairness for women. If men and women were to compete against one another it is undeniable that sport

Get Access