Transgender Policy and Internet for Social Change

During the course of this semester I have learned many new and interesting facts about sport, and women in sport. One of the topics that I found to be most interesting was the International Olympic Committee’s policy for transgendered athletes. This policy, although very restrictive, allows individuals who have completed sexual reassignment surgery (along with other precise criteria) to compete with other athletes of their assigned sex. I was previously unaware that transgendered individuals were permitted to participate in the Olympics, or any large sporting event for that matter. It was also interesting to learn that there is a push for the NCAA to also adopt a transgender policy, although preferably a more lenient version, to enable younger transgendered people to participate in competitive athletics.

During the course of the semester I have also realized another interesting fact; women and women athletes are not portrayed correctly by the media. Magazines and television all show women, even woman athletes, as sexualized and highly feminized objects. The internet could be a great way to transform the social ideal of athletic women by posting positive information and pictures. Information on girls and women’s sport and the benefits of exercise could be made more readily available. Also, websites showing action shots or game footage of woman could help to create a new image for woman athletes. The internet is becoming the most popular form of mass media and, if used wisely, could greatly influence the effect that media has on women in sport.

Michelle Dietz T/TH 2-3:15