In America today, something unprecedented is occurring in regard to the idea of gender, and it is causing a bit of a kerfuffle in certain circles.
For many Americans, gender itself is fluid, or even incorrect, with some of our fellow countrymen and women believing that they are living in the wrong body altogether. And, thanks to the increased advocacy for transgender individuals, there has been a snowballing effect on the issue of trans visibility.
And while this nation is found on the idea that you have the freedom to be who you wish to be, born-male athletes competing within female sports have drawn a number of criticisms, given that the male body’s potency and center of gravity are not changed by hormonal therapies and surgery.
As the Olympics draw near, this issue will be put to the test.
A New Zealand weightlifter—who has competed in men’s events in the past– will become the first transgender competitor to qualify to be on the country’s women’s weightlifting team for Tokyo 2020.
“I am grateful and humbled by the kindness and support that has been given to me by so many New Zealanders,” Laurel Hubbard, 43, said in a statement, according to the BBC.
The report pointed out that in 2015, the International Olympic Committee changed its rules to allow transgender athletes to compete as long as their testosterone level is below a certain level and maintained for a year. The determining criteria — a maximum reading of 10 nanomoles per liter of testosterone — is as least five times more than a biological woman.
But not everyone is on board.
Belgium’s Anna Vanbellinghen, who will likely compete against Hubbard, said the New Zealander’s presence would be “like a bad joke” for women competitors.
“Life-changing opportunities are missed for some athletes — medals and Olympic qualifications — and we are powerless. Of course, this debate is taking place in a broader context of discrimination against transgender people and that is why the question is never free of ideology.”
There is no doubt that this debate will continue for some time.