The Athlete Perspective on Sex-Integrated Sport and Inclusion of Transgender Athletes

Since the passage of Title IX in 1972, the number of female athletes in the United States has increased tremendously (US Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). Yet despite this increase, a gendered hierarchy in sport that privileges male athletes remains. The purpose of this dissertation was to ascertain (1) the gender-based barriers that exist in sport and the existing interventions utilized to address them; (2) the level of support among college athletes for inclusion of trans athletes at the collegiate level; and (3) the extent of exposure to sex-integrated sport, as well as the level of support for sex-integrated sport.

In the systematic review of the literature, I found several persistent gender-based barriers in sport: (1) belief in the biological athletic superiority of male athletes; (2) society's definition of the female athlete; (3) disparities in resource allocation; and (4) gendered language. Sex integration was also identified as one intervention proposed in the literature to address these barriers. However, research on this topic is still in its infancy and mostly qualitative. A cross-sectional survey was deployed to college student-athletes across the United States (N=295) to assess exposure to sex-integrated sport, as well as assess support for sex-integrated sport. In addition, support for inclusion of transgender athletes was assessed as well as knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding transgender individuals.

Results suggest strong opposition among college student-athletes regarding inclusion of trans athletes. However, multiple avenues for interventions aimed at inclusion efforts are discussed. Findings also suggest athletes had extensive exposure to sex-integrated training while exposure to sex-integrated competition was more limited, especially for older age categories. Results provide valuable information on the current extent of sex integration in sport as well as assess its potential reception by athletes for future intervention. I discuss implications and future research directions.