Introduction
The article selected for this argumentative paper is the Northern Star editorial under the title “Transgender Athletes Deserve Equality.” As the title implies, the authors of the article pursue the idea that transgender athletes should be given equal opportunities to participate in the divisions of genders they associate themselves with. The authors support their claim by referring to repetitive victories in the women’s division and the contribution to the overall civil rights of transgender people striving for equality. However, the author of this essay partially disagrees with the support provided for the claims in the editorial. This argumentative essay is designed to prove that equality for transgender athletes will jeopardize fairness in sports, cause bias in women’s division, and not reflect social concerns.
Unfair Implications for Cisgender Individuals’ Opportunities
The authors of the article claim that transgender athletes deserve equal representation and the right to participate in competitions in the divisions of the gender they identify themselves by referring to social structures and justice. However, such support is incomplete since it neglects the articulation of the unfair distribution of strengths among the participants, which is decisive for a proper sporting competition. Indeed, the editorial board cites Quinn, the transgender athlete who stated that they “feel sad knowing there were Olympians before me unable to live their truth because of the world” (Northern Star Editorial Board par. 4). However, living one’s truth should not become a decisive factor in altering the rules of participants distribution based on the physical attributes that are decisive in sports. It is particularly relevant for the women’s division in all kinds of sports.
Focus on Achievements in Women’s Divisions Primarily
The authors of the article use the reference to the significant sporting achievements and victories of transgender people as ground-forming support for their thesis. However, one might find such evidence incomplete and biased due to the identification of predominantly women’s divisions’ achievements. The authors state that “the Canadian Women’s Soccer team didn’t just make history by claiming their first-ever Olympic gold medal defeating Sweden,” where transgender athlete Quinn had a decisive role alongside other women transgender athletes (Northern Star Editorial Board par. 1).
Indeed, the manipulation of the victories and the promotion of the national teams in the international sporting arena creates a false picture that transgender inclusion is worthwhile and beneficial. However, the authors fail to identify the same level of achievements in the men’s division, which would have made the argument well-supported and valid. This observation reflects the social perception of the problem discussed further.
The Lack of Social Support
Another inaccuracy in support of the authors’ claims is the manipulation of the statistical data, which reflects the under-representation of transgender rights in the public domain. Indeed, according to the editorial, “only 34% of Americans support trans athletes playing on teams that match their gender identity, according to a Gallup poll from May” (Northern Star Editorial Board par. 8). Thus, the perception of the society implies that the issue of providing transgender athletes the opportunity to participate in their gender-based divisions is not tentative and should not be prioritized.
Conclusion
In summation, the analyzed editorial’s position implies significant inaccuracies in the articulation of the claims of transgender athletes in their sports careers. In particular, the authors failed to address the fairness issues implied in the unequal physical attributes of transgender and cisgender athletes. Moreover, their support was biased due to the focus on achievements in women’s divisions only, where transgender people have an advantage. Finally, the authors’ claimed urgency of the issue is not supported by statistics on public perception of the problem. Thus, one might not agree with the argument of the editorial based on the above-mentioned reasons.
Work Cited
Northern Star Editorial Board. “Editorial: Transgender Athletes Deserve Equality.” Northern Star. Web.