Equity in Play: Analyzing Legal and Ethical Views on Transgender Participation in Sports

Authors

  • Aglaia Hong

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62051/9m6bdd54

Keywords:

Transgender athletes; sports inclusion; legal frameworks; ethical considerations; policy development.

Abstract

This paper delves into the complex interplay surrounding the participation of transgender athletes in sports, addressing the legal, ethical, and policy-related hurdles encountered. Initial sections scrutinize prevailing legal structures, notably Title IX and the guidelines set forth by the International Olympic Committee, and their impact on the acceptance of transgender athletes in competitive arenas. Subsequent discussions focus on ethical issues, highlighting the significance of ensuring fairness, acknowledging gender identity, and considering the broader societal effects of transgender individuals in sports. The paper offers suggestions for refining policies within sports organizations, calling for modernized legal safeguards, adaptable eligibility standards, and extensive educational initiatives to enhance inclusivity and equity. Concluding remarks reflect on the progress still required to secure complete inclusion and equality for transgender athletes, underscoring the imperative for ongoing activism, study, and conversations to dismantle prevailing obstacles. By providing an in-depth examination of these aspects, the paper aims to enrich the discourse on transgender athletes in sports and suggests strategies towards cultivating a sporting culture that is both inclusive and just.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Answers to your questions about transgender people, gender identity, and gender expression. (2023, March 9). American Psychological Association. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbtq/transgender-people-gender-identity-gender-expression

Bahrampour, T., Clement, S., & Guskin, E. (2022, June 14). Most Americans oppose trans athletes in female sports, poll finds. Washington Post. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/06/13/washington-post-umd-poll-most-americans-oppose-transgender-athletes-female-sports/

Caster Semenya Won Her Case, But Not the Right to Compete. (2023, July 18). Human Rights Watch. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/07/18/caster-semenya-won-her-case-not-right-compete

Change in grip strength in trans people and its association with lean body mass and bone density. (n.d.). NCBI. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6652261/

Gender Dysphoria - StatPearls. (n.d.). NCBI. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532313/

Goldberg, S. K., & Santos, T. (2021, February 8). Fair Play. Center for American Progress. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.americanprogress.org/article/fair-play/

Hursthouse, R., & Pettigrove, G. (2003, July 18). Virtue Ethics (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-virtue/

IOC Consensus Meeting on Sex Reassignment and Hyperandrogenism November 2015. (n.d.). Olympics. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/Commissions_PDFfiles/Medical_commission/2015-11_ioc_consensus_meeting_on_sex_reassignment_and_hyperandrogenism-en.pdf

NCAA Inclusion of Transgender Student-Athletes. (n.d.). ncaaorg. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/inclusion/lgbtq/INC_TransgenderHandbook.pdf

Respect for cultural diversity in bioethics is an ethical imperative. (n.d.). NCBI. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3562559/

Sport and Transgender People: A Systematic Review of the Literature Relating to Sport Participation and Competitive Sport Policies. (2016, October 3). NCBI. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5357259/

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 | US EPA. (2023, October 23). Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.epa.gov/external-civil-rights/title-ix-education-amendments-act-1972

Transgender exclusion in sports. (n.d.). American Psychological Association. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbtq/transgender-exclusion-sports

Transgender social inclusion and equality: a pivotal path to development. (2016, July 17). NCBI. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4949312/

Transgender Women in the Female Category of Sport: Perspectives on Testosterone Suppression and Performance Advantage. (2020, December 8). NCBI. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7846503/

Utilitarianism | Definition, Philosophy, Examples, Ethics, Philosophers, & Facts. (2024, March 29). Britannica. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/utilitarianism-philosophy

Downloads

Published

29-08-2024

How to Cite

Hong, A. (2024). Equity in Play: Analyzing Legal and Ethical Views on Transgender Participation in Sports. Transactions on Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 12, 124-130. https://doi.org/10.62051/9m6bdd54