How to break stereotypes: Trans in sport and personal life of athletes

How to break stereotypes: Trans in sport and personal life of athletes

The further we progress into the modern age, the more we abolish stereotypes and the discrimination that comes with them. There’s still lots of work to do, but improvements are being made every day.

Athletes work tirelessly to earn their title and stance in the sports world; so, when they’re disrespected for being transgender, it cuts all the deeper. Being respected in your field of work is as important as being respected by your dating partner. However, trans athletes face many stereotypes which inhibit this success. We’re here to unpack these myths and stereotypes and to make trans people feel more secure in their athletic careers. Besides, sport, as any public platform for celebrities, raises awareness of the issue. Normalization of how transgenders are accepted into society comes from sports, mass culture, and personal issues. Trans men are men, and trans women are women, so accepting them as their preferred gender and having a healthy sympathy towards them might lead to having a trans hook up and making them as normal as hooking up online with people of the opposite (or the same, as this is already normalized in the Western society) genders. And when trans people participate in sports can lead to increased success in making them visible and attractive! When you find greater happiness in your romantic life, it translates into other areas of society; thus with increased representation of trans people in public and personal life, society becomes better as a whole.

Where Do Sportsmen Usually Find Partners?

Finding partners is increasingly easy for transgender people, thanks to online dating. Dating sites make it safer for people to find partners as they can date in communities that accept them. In-person, we run the risk of face-to-face discrimination; however, when online, simply use sites that cater to your demographic or desire to have a fantastic trans hook up with people loving transgender singles for what they are and trying to appear. Transgender sports people have increased chances of success whilst having a better time! It’s always safe to point people towards online dating when they’re looking for a partner.

Happy relationships – good results in sport

When we excel in our love life, we find an increased sense of worth and confidence in other areas of our life. It’s for this reason that we believe everyone should be seeking love, be it true or temporary; affection/ romance bolsters self-worth and gives us the boost we need. This is especially true in sports! Confidence is a vital trait of any successful sportsman and can be found through companionship.

Discrimination As a Transgender Athlete and How to Deal with it?

To conquer stereotypes, we must first acknowledge what they are. Stereotypes have been around for generations and largely shape how we interact with others and or social restrictions; subsequently, when you find yourself in a discriminated group, the assumptions can stick like mud. It’s time that we battle these stereotypes, especially towards trans athletes! They work just as hard as everyone else in the field (possibly harder) and should receive the appropriate recognition. There are three main stereotypes within this issue, which are as follows.

1. Trans people have an unfair advantage in sports. Someone who was born male and transitions to female would obviously, partake in the female sports categories. Subsequently, they’re subjected to abuse from observers as they believe they have an unfair advantage. This isn’t true! When people transition, they go through hormone medication to regulate their levels and to encourage the chemical balance to become the same as of the (previously) opposite gender. With these hormonal ads comes the side effects of said gender. They must work just as hard as the women on their team and should be recognized for it.
2. They’re not real men/ women. Perhaps the most offensive and damaging stereotype of the transgender community. When people take the leap to be honest about their identity, it takes strength and bravery; to belittle this and reduce them to their previous gender is damaging to progress and their mental wellbeing. To identity with different gender and to competitively represent that gender in sports events takes bravery we admire.
3. Trans people are perverts. Some people believe that trans people use their gender alteration to gain access to private spaces (such as locker rooms or bathrooms). However, we believe that this is more indicative of those saying/ believing this stereotype. The difficulty of feeling trapped in a body you don’t identify with is not an opportunity for sexualization.

Popular sportsmen

To give you an idea of the type of people you may experience in transgender sports, here’s a list of the top three trans athletes!

1. Caitlyn Jenner. Perhaps the most popular transgender athlete, Caitlyn, competed in the 1976 Olympics and won herself a medal in the decathlon. However, when she competed, she was known as Bruce Jenner. Her transition came many years later in 2015 and was a hot topic in the media.
2. Balian Buschbaum. In 2000 Balian (who was known as Yvonne at the time) competed in the Olympics in the pole-vaulting category; he started his transition from woman to man in 2007.
3. Fallon Fox. This athlete has won herself quite the name as she’s the first openly transgender woman to compete in MMA. However, her decision to go against women has stirred a lot of criticism due to the stereotype of her supposed advantage.

In conclusion, trans stereotypes have been a controversial talking point for many years. Many are for the inclusivity of transgender athletes; however, there’s still plenty of improvement to be made in the public and media spheres.

We hope you enjoyed the article ‘How to break stereotypes: Trans in sport and personal life of athletes.’ What is the right path to stopping discrimination of trans people in sport? Let us know!

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