Beyond the Binary: Re-Examining Male-to-Female (MTF) Transgender Inclusion in American College Sports

Abstract

Transgender bodies problematize sport. Currently structured within a strict gender binary of “male” and “female”, the visible structural challenge of transgender student athletes' existence has been a subject of heightened controversy and division. In particular, there is a perceived threat of transgender participation in American college sports. The purpose of this study is to outline the recent policy changes of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and to highlight the real-life impacts on transgender student athletes’ (TSAs) experiences. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews of six male-to-female (MTF) TSAs to foreground their voices and lived experiences. Results were hierarchically coded, revealing the multi-layered risk exclusion poses to transgender well-being as defined by (a) the impact on self-identity, and therefore mental & emotional health (micro) and (b) the impact on their social inclusion and sense of belonging (meso). The paper concludes with a call to action for inclusive policy and the promotion of genuine athletic opportunities within the American education system.