A BU sports graduate is setting out to increase awareness of the experiences of transgender people in competitive football through a research project.
Terri Harvey (she/her) completed her undergraduate degree in sports development and coaching sciences in 2020 and has now completed her Master’s, exploring The Lived Experiences of Transgender Footballers in the UK.
Her focus was prompted by the experiences of a close relative, who had to stop playing competitive football when he transitioned. Terri said: “Most literature regarding trans* experiences in sport focuses on educational or leisure settings, leaving a gap in the study of lower-level competitive sports governed by national bodies.”
Terri’s research has uncovered that there is a need for policy changes and educational initiatives aimed at not only challenging the existing gender binary but also educating clubs about trans* inclusion. Some of the participants experienced a loss of self or belonging due to the imposed policies of the FA. They noted that they felt let down by the FA and that the policies do not give a clear guidance regarding what they need to do in order to gain clearance to play football.
Much of the media coverage surrounding the issue focuses on concerns about the potential for unfair advantage – particularly for sportspeople transitioning from male to female. The research proved that positive role models and positive trans* narratives in the media are vital in combatting trans* negativity in sport and beyond. She said: “Football is becoming more inclusive but there is still a long way to go. I am interested to see how my research can help to inform the debate and ultimately help us all to move forward.”
From the research, Terri recommends that the FA should implement specific strategies of inclusion such as embedding trans* education in levelled coaching courses as well as ensuring policies are up to date, accessible and have the correct information available to those who need it. Also, more in depth studies need to be conducted to fully capture the experiences of trans* participants at grassroots level in football and other sports.
Terri’s undergraduate research focused on the prevalence of abuse in competitive sport and resulted in an arts-based exhibition of her findings. She is looking to share her research with the FA in a similar way. She said: “Presenting sports research in this way is a fairly new approach, but I find that it makes subjects that people can find difficult, more accessible. Art can prompt people to be more empathetic which is good for engagement.”
Since completing her master’s, Terri has presented her research as the 15th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference as well as sharing her research with the top academics in safeguarding sport at the International Research Network on Violence and Integrity in Sport (IRNOVIS)/ Safe Sport International research symposium 2023.
