Olympic Study Challenges Assumption Trans Women Have ‘Male Advantage’
Comparing cisgender and transgender athletes under lab conditions shows that trans women are at a disadvantage on several measures
A new study commissioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) conducted by researchers at Brighton University, UK, is among the first to systematically compare cisgender and transgender athletes under lab conditions.
The research provides much needed data to counter the ideological sexism and transphobia that have characterised the debate around trans women in elite sport and justified their exclusion.
The findings show that trans women are at a disadvantage compared to cis men and, on some measures of performance, at a disadvantage compared to cis women as well.
Importantly, the findings indicate that equating trans women’s performance with that of cisgender men and suggesting the former therefore have a ‘male advantage’ over cisgender women is incorrect.
Although the numbers for the study are small, it should nonetheless provide a jumping off point for future research. It also provides evidence for challenging the basis for gender-segregated sports.
