Does Allowing Transgender Women to Compete Spell An End to Women’s Sports?
Think like a Women’s Studies’ scholar:
Review this article: https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/2/24/22299922/allowing-transgender-women-compete-end-womens-sports-mike-lee
Then, Answer these questions:
How does the information reported in the news article connect to scholarly research in the field?
What do scholars already know that can deepen our understanding of the information reported in the article?
Just last year, transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard made headlines when she competed in and won the women’s division of the 2017 Asia-Pacific Championships. It was a victory that sparked outrage among many who feel that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports is unfair and could spell the end of women’s sports as we know it.
Critics argue that transgender women have an unfair advantage because they retain some of the physical characteristics of men, such as greater muscle mass and bone density. They also argue that transgender women have not undergone the same hormone therapy as other women, which can impact things like strength, stamina, and recovery time.
Proponents of allowing transgender women to compete argue that there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that transgender women have an unfair advantage. They point to the fact that many transgender women undergo hormone therapy and that there are strict guidelines in place for transgender athletes competing in the Olympics.
How would a Women’s Studies scholar respond to the argument that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports is unfair and could spell the end of women’s sports as we know it?
A Women’s Studies scholar might argue that the notion that transgender women have an unfair advantage in sports is based on sexist and transphobic assumptions about what it means to be a woman. They might also argue that hormone therapy is not necessary for transgender women to compete in women’s sports, and that many transgender women do not undergo hormone therapy for a variety of reasons.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to allow transgender women to compete in women’s sports is a complex one with no easy answers. What is clear, however, is that the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports is an important step towards achieving equality for all women.