Trans women in sport: Is it fair? | Stephen Kershnar (Rebroadcast)
Dec 10, 2023
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Lia Thomas, a trans woman, sparks controversy by competing and winning women's collegiate swimming events. Should trans athletes be allowed to compete in the gendered competition of their choice? Discussions include perspectives on consequentialism and non-consequentialism in determining eligibility, objections to discrimination in sports, implications of inequal protections, and the challenges of determining conflicting autonomy and interests in sports.
The eligibility of transgender women to compete in women's collegiate sports is a discretionary decision for each collegiate sports organization.
Fairness in sports is a complex and individually valued concept, making it challenging to determine whether transgender women should be allowed to compete in women's sports.
Arguments based on dignity and autonomy in sports lack consistent criteria and clear foundations for determining fairness or rights.
Deep dives
The Case of Leah Thomas and the Controversy Surrounding Transgender Women in Collegiate Sports
Transgender athlete Leah Thomas, who transitioned from the men's swimming team to the women's team, won the collegiate championship in the 500-meter swim. This has sparked a heated debate on whether transgender women should be allowed to compete in women's collegiate sports. The argument is that different collegiate sports rules are morally permissible, and the decision of whether or not to allow transgender women to compete is discretionary for each collegiate sports organization.
The Concept of a Moral Free Zone in College Sports
College sports are perceived as a moral free zone, where different rules and practices are morally permissible as long as they do not involve force, fraud, or theft. This perspective holds that the rules and regulations set by the owners of the university, the league, or the NCAA determine eligibility to compete in collegiate sports, including whether transgender women are allowed to compete against cisgender women.
The Inherent Subjectivity and Undefined Nature of Fairness in Sports
The concept of fairness in sports is subjective and difficult to define. Various arguments regarding fairness in collegiate sports have been raised, but they lack a clear definition of what constitutes fairness or unfairness. The absence of a universally agreed-upon definition reinforces the idea that fairness in sports is a complex and individually valued concept, making it challenging to determine whether transgender women should be allowed to compete in women's sports.
The Limitations of Dignity Arguments and Autonomy Justifications in Sports Contexts
Arguments based on dignity and autonomy in the context of sports have limitations. Dignity-based arguments suggest that certain activities or rules should or should not be allowed based on the perceived dignity of individuals involved. However, the justification and interpretation of dignity varies, making it difficult to use it as a consistent criterion for determining what is fair or unfair in sports. Similarly, autonomy-based arguments pose challenges as they fail to provide a clear foundation for defining rights in sports. Autonomy alone does not necessarily result in rights that can be objectively determined or universally applied.
The problem of determining the most valuable player
Determining the most valuable player in sports poses a theoretical problem as there is no one answer. Looking at the average player or the actual backup player fails to provide a reliable measure of a player's value. In addition, libertarian free will and the lack of a specific counterfactual make it impossible to accurately assess a player's contribution to a team. Consequently, there is no factual basis for determining the most valuable player, which challenges the validity of consequentialism.
The irrationality of team support in modern soccer
Supporting a particular sports team, especially in modern soccer with transfers and international competitions, can be considered irrational. Fans often attach themselves to a team based on regional or historical factors, but as teams change their composition and location, the emotional attachment becomes arbitrary. Despite the irrationality, these preferences still bring pleasure to individuals, highlighting the role of irrational preferences in our lives.
Lia Thomas, a trans woman, has sparked controversy by competing in and winning women’s collegiate swimming events. Should Thomas and other trans athletes be allowed to compete in the gendered competition of their choice?
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