Caitlyn Jenner’s Latest Controversy Questions Trans Women and Girls in Sports
- Sueleen Lam
- Oct 30, 2021
- 3 min read
2021 has been difficult for youth that are trans. At least 28 states have proposed or passed laws limiting the involvement of transgender youth in sports alongside their right to medical treatment. Furthermore, a ban on trans girls participating in women’s sports is being considered by numerous US states.
Many individuals are under the impression that transgender girls have an advantage because of their levels of testosterone. This is thought to cause physical changes in factors such as muscle mass.
Joanna Harper, a researcher on transitioning athletes, states that advantages in sports is common. She also discusses how “athletic abilities vary regardless of the gender someone is assigned at birth”.
Everyone is born with different advantages; yet cisgender individuals who clearly have the upper-hand are not discriminated against in sports.
Not only this, but 10% of women have elevated testosterone levels due to polycystic ovarian syndrome-yet they too, are not banned from female sports.
Many transgender girls are on puberty blockers, resulting in low levels of testosterone. This is because it forces one's body to stop the production of testosterone and estrogen, which consequently pauses the effects of puberty.
This is all to say that the notion testosterone has a clear, consistent relationship with athletic performance seems to be a myth thus far. Katrina Karkazis, an expert on testosterone and bioethics at Yale University stated how this idea lacks scientific validity due to the fact that different studies have produced different outcomes. While some suggest testosterone is associated with better performance, other research shows that it’s associated with worse performance.
Amidst all of this, Caitlyn Jenner made a statement to TMZ: that she doesn’t support trans girls participating in all women sports in schools. Due to Caitlyn Jenner’s title of being a former Olympic champion, as well as a trans woman, this came as a shock to many.
From a political standpoint, this may be a ploy to get votes. After all, she recently announced her candidacy to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, in a recall election.
Arguably, this illustrates a hypocritical standpoint as she told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire shows that she was considering US politics in order to promote LGBT issues during an interview back in 2017.
How does her statement, alongside her current influence as not only a celebrity, but now a political figure, impact the transgender community?
The progression of legislation targeting transgender children has grown, and consequently, marginalization has as well.
Transgender children already suffer higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality, as well as homelessness and poverty due to family rejection. This makes it difficult for them to train and compete, and plays a role in why it is rare for us to see many transgender athletes in college sports- and even the Olympics.
The idea that transgender girls have an unfair advantage further marginalizes them when the odds are already against them in every way possible.
Regular exercise and sport engagement is often used in promoting better mental health. With the transgender community already disproportionately impacted by mental health, they could greatly benefit from engaging in sports.
These policies, and statements from pop culture icons such as Caitlyn Jenner create a barrier for transgender people engaging in sports with cisgender people.
Imagine the fear of feeling rejected from a team, or feeling like you should not be there just because of your gender identity.
Although Caitlyn Jenner is a transgender woman herself, that does not provide an excuse for her to cause other people distress in the transgender community.
The Jenner daughters already generate profit with their role in unattainable beauty standards for girls and women around the world, and to now add to it, Caitlyn Jenner is making statements discriminating against transgender girls in order to “protect” cisgender girls.
Caitlyn Jenner seems to go along with what benefits her. Although her personal struggle with gender identity is incredibly valid, it is clear from her actions that everything else is for personal gain. She remains silent about the fact that her family is profiting from children’s insecurities, and is now further marginalizing the transgender community for her potential political victory.
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