Exploring Trans People’s Narratives of Transition: Negotiation of Gendered Bodies in Physical Activity and Sport

Sofía Pereira-García, José Devís-Devís, Elena López-Cañada, Jorge Fuentes-Miguel, Andrew C. Sparkes and Víctor Pérez-Samaniego
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Sofía Pereira-García: AFES Research Group, Department of Social Work and Social Services, Universitat de Valencia, Avda Tarongers 6, 46022 Valencia, Spain
José Devís-Devís: AFES Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Universitat de Valencia, C/Gascó Oliag, 3, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Elena López-Cañada: AFES Research Group, Department of Body Expression Didactics, Universitat de Valencia, Avda Tarongers 4, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Jorge Fuentes-Miguel: AFES Research Group, Department of Body Expression Didactics, Universitat de Valencia, Avda Tarongers 4, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Andrew C. Sparkes: Carnegie School of Sport, Cavendish 101, Headingley Campus, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS6 3QU, UK
Víctor Pérez-Samaniego: AFES Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Universitat de Valencia, C/Gascó Oliag, 3, 46010 Valencia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: This paper explores how trans people who make transitions negotiate their gendered bodies in different moments of this process, and how their narrative storylines are emplotted in physical activity and (non)organized sports (PAS) participation. A qualitative semi-structured interview-based study was developed to analyze the stories of eight trans people (three trans women, two trans men, and three nonbinary persons) who participated in PAS before and during their gender disclosure. A thematic analysis was conducted to identify the patterns in the transition process and the structural analysis of the stories from the interviews. Three transition moments (the closet, opening up, and reassuring) were identified from the thematic analysis. Most participants showed difficulties in achieving their PAS participation during the two earlier moments. The predominance of failure storylines was found particularly in men, while success was more likely to appear in women because their bodies and choices fitted better with their PAS gender ideals. The nonbinary trans persons present alternative storylines in which corporeality has less influence on their PAS experiences. The knowledge provided on the moments and the stories of transition help to explain trans people’s (non)involvement in PAS and to guide policymaking and professional action in PAS fields.

Keywords: transgender; storyline; embodiment; exercise; active lifestyle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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