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Rethinking Human Rights for Transgender Athletes. A Policy Analysis of Transgender Eligibility Regulations in Competitive Sport

von Petersdorff, Lina LU (2024) MRSM15 20241
Human Rights Studies
Abstract
The number of openly outed trans individuals in society and in sport is increasing and can be expected to keep growing. The sporting domain is singled out as special in terms of trans rights, as it is solely based on physical characteristics. Trans people in sport have become a subject of heated debates. However, the field of human rights has so far neglected the topic.
Analysing 16 transgender eligibility policies of different international sports federations, this project makes the case for a human rights-based approach towards participation in competitive sports in accordance with a person’s gender identity. It does so by focussing on specific human rights and utilising feminist theories. The analysis identifies that the policies frame... (More)
The number of openly outed trans individuals in society and in sport is increasing and can be expected to keep growing. The sporting domain is singled out as special in terms of trans rights, as it is solely based on physical characteristics. Trans people in sport have become a subject of heated debates. However, the field of human rights has so far neglected the topic.
Analysing 16 transgender eligibility policies of different international sports federations, this project makes the case for a human rights-based approach towards participation in competitive sports in accordance with a person’s gender identity. It does so by focussing on specific human rights and utilising feminist theories. The analysis identifies that the policies frame transgender athletes as a “problem”. The use of language and, in particular concepts, play a crucial role in the policies and in this project. Therefore, the argument is made for redefining the concepts of sex and gender in sport. Overall, the project finds the right to non-discrimination, the right to work and the right to sport to be relevant in this area. It argues for a rethinking of human rights to change the strict binary categorisation in sport based on sex. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
von Petersdorff, Lina LU
supervisor
organization
course
MRSM15 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Transgender athletes, sports policies, policy analysis, human rights, trans rights, feminist theory, international federations, eligibility regulations
language
English
id
9165430
date added to LUP
2024-09-17 13:59:09
date last changed
2024-09-17 13:59:09
@misc{9165430,
  abstract     = {{The number of openly outed trans individuals in society and in sport is increasing and can be expected to keep growing. The sporting domain is singled out as special in terms of trans rights, as it is solely based on physical characteristics. Trans people in sport have become a subject of heated debates. However, the field of human rights has so far neglected the topic.
Analysing 16 transgender eligibility policies of different international sports federations, this project makes the case for a human rights-based approach towards participation in competitive sports in accordance with a person’s gender identity. It does so by focussing on specific human rights and utilising feminist theories. The analysis identifies that the policies frame transgender athletes as a “problem”. The use of language and, in particular concepts, play a crucial role in the policies and in this project. Therefore, the argument is made for redefining the concepts of sex and gender in sport. Overall, the project finds the right to non-discrimination, the right to work and the right to sport to be relevant in this area. It argues for a rethinking of human rights to change the strict binary categorisation in sport based on sex.}},
  author       = {{von Petersdorff, Lina}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Rethinking Human Rights for Transgender Athletes. A Policy Analysis of Transgender Eligibility Regulations in Competitive Sport}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}