Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates Book Cover

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Ratings & Reviews for

Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates

Katie Barnes

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5 stars

264 (49%)

4 stars

200 (37%)

3 stars

52 (9%)

2 stars

11 (2%)

1 star

2 (<1%)

Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews

Susanne Latour

449 reviews6 followers

November 9, 2023

I grew up playing sports and while I strongly believe participation in sports should be accessible to and accepting of everyone because of the many great lessons and values that participating in sports can teach people the policies around transgender athletes is a difficult one to navigate.

I thought the author Katie Barnes did a good job at breaking down and looking at the many aspects of this issue and interviewed people with varying opinions. I particularly thought Chapter 12: The Answers to the Questions I Get Asked, did a great job of breaking down their own specific thoughts on these issues from their experience of being involved in sports as a non-binary athlete growing up and now being very knowledgeable from reporting on the intersection of sports and gender since 2016.

While there were many things I agreed with throughout this book there are still some questions that I feel need to be answered and probably will take a number of years to do so. My background is science more specifically Kinesiology so I’m personally looking to science. With so little scientific research on the effects of hormone suppression (both short term and long term) and even a smaller amount specifically on athletes at the elite level in sports on such things as strength, speed and power (as well as looking at things such as general anatomical structure, bone density etc between the two sexes that effects these variables that do not change with transitioning) combined with the fact that transitioning is not a uniform process for every transgender person makes policy making difficult. I don’t know if we are ever going to get an answer that will please everyone but I think that we do need to do our best to protect women’s sports in terms of both competition fairness and physical safety. I think in the elite levels of sport, policies that allow transgender to compete in the category that is consistent with their gender identity without requiring any medical intervention (no hormone suppression required) undercuts the purpose and need for sex separation in sport. My thoughts on this topic are not exclusionary by any means, everyone should be allowed to participate, I just think we need to find the most suitable category for athletes to compete in based on what the research shows.

Jordyn Roesler | Sorry, Booked Solid

789 reviews251 followers

September 12, 2023

This is one of the best nonfiction books I've read in a long time. You have to be interested in the subject matter, but if you are, no matter what side of the issue you're on, this book provides SO many examples and so much context to the topic of gender in sports and the history of inclusion/exclusion of transgender and nonbinary athletes. It could have easily come off as textbook-y with how much history is included, but the author's passion helped keep it personal and relevant to the actual individuals involved in the situations discussed and I really enjoyed it. I'm hopeful this book will help to inform and shape inclusion within sports and the ongoing gender debate in the future. Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

2023 nonfictions

ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn

1,658 reviews80 followers

September 24, 2023

I think when reading and reviewing a non fiction book, you have to look at the thought and research put into the subject matter to "rate" it. Fair Play written by Katie Barnes was a true testimony to a well researched book that included arguments and articles taken from many sources to help push the author's intent forward.

I'm a sports gal and I've loved sports my whole life. My mom instilled that in me when "forcing" us kids to watch football every Sunday. But then that trickled over to so many other sports. But where were the women? Where were the professional sports for them besides the Olympics every 4 years (that was the schedule for the Olympics back when I was growing up).

Katie Barnes starts out their book focusing on women, title IX and how far we've come and have yet to go when we are talking about women and sports. I think to truly appreciate this book, you have to be a lover of sports. From there, they take the book that they've written about gender and sports and unraveled the debate of LGBTQ+ and their inclusion from when they are children, to college, to the professional level. I honestly wasn't sure where I stood on the debate, but that also was because I wasn't educated enough to make an informed decision. Barnes includes a plethora of articles, interviews and a deep research into this subject matter that will continuously evolve from when they started the book to many years down the road. There is science to back this book and there is personal opinion. No matter what side you stand on, I think Katie Barnes gave us a good look and arguments for the reader to not only inform us, but also to show their passion on the subject that has become a heated debate countrywide.

This book challenges its readers to look at all the sides when considering the complex study of gender, sports and the inclusion of trans and nonbinary athletes on all levels. I feel like I have a deeper understanding because of this book and how they broke down the content that made it easy to understand and grasp. Along with Barnes personal experience, I believe this is a book that should be required reading for the sports world. Thank you to St Martin's Press for my early copy.

netgalley-arc non-fiction

Dona's Books

901 reviews128 followers

Read

July 17, 2023

Review coming on PUB WEEK 🥳 September 20 2023!

HB.

185 reviews24 followers

August 13, 2023

In Fair Play, Katie Barnes provides a nuanced exploration of gender and trans identities within the realm of sports, spanning from the Olympics to youth leagues and everything in between. Drawing on their extensive experience and reporting on debates surrounding trans athletes, Barnes presents a well-researched and thorough examination of this complex issue. The book not only delves into the specific challenges faced by trans athletes, particularly trans women but also offers a broader understanding of the topic's historical context and its potential future trajectories. As someone who shares an interest in equality, I found this book to be a helpful resource for gaining a more detailed perspective on the subject. Barnes engages with a diverse range of voices, interviewing individuals from various sports and different levels of competition. This approach provides a multifaceted view of how these issues impact different people and offers insights into the complexities of the matter. The book challenges oversimplifications often presented by opposing sides and encourages readers to consider the complexities at hand. As we anticipate the next Olympics, "Fair Play" serves as an enlightening guide for those seeking a deeper understanding of the evolving intersection between gender and sports.

Myles Baldwin

36 reviews

January 12, 2024

As someone about to step into the world of sports on the administration side, I wanted to read this book to be better educated on this particular issue. I love the way Katie writes about the issue from all sides while still recognizing their own biases as a person and author. I learned a lot from this book, but what I enjoyed the most was the way each athlete mentioned in the book was humanized. As the gender conversation gets more polarized, I feel that we lose athletes as fleshed or people and instead treat them as pieces of evidence. I love that this book let us in the lives of the athletes mentioned beyond just the sport they play.

Shane

532 reviews11 followers

December 19, 2023

This book was what I wanted it to be - a good resource on the topic written from the perspective of a trans person who gives a shit about sports. I am a trans person who doesn’t give a shit about sports and so there were places where my eyes glazed a bit but ultimately glad to have read it. Wish I could never think about sports and gender again but lol

nf-misc queerio

Cameron Griffith

12 reviews

February 13, 2024

I FINALLY FINISHED. This book was so f-ing good. So comprehensive, so well-written, so well-researched, so so so powerful.

You definitely have to be interested in the topic in order to really enjoy it, but all nonfiction is like that. I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in policy regarding trans people. Restrictive policies for trans athletes absolutely opened the door for more restrictive policies for trans people in general (as we are seeing literally every day now).

Nadezhda Anna

21 reviews

February 25, 2024

Assumptions challenged.

All should be respected and recognized for who they are and how they want to be identified. Gender equality is a must. A deeply researched and passionate book for better understanding of gender debates in sports, from NCAA to the Olympics, across the country.

A book I unfortunately could see being banned in certain districts and states.

Caroline Wilson

110 reviews

December 23, 2023

A well-researched and thought-provoking take on a super hot topic. Learned a ton and talked Mitch’s ear off throughout. I originally picked this up because the author was scheduled to come talk at Blair - it was cancelled for now, but I certainly hope they make it in the spring!

Caitlin Desaulniers

11 reviews1 follower

February 28, 2024

A must read for anyone with interest in sports or LGBTQ+ policies.
Although this book dives deep into research specifically about sport, my exercise science brain is tingling; It also brings a much needed perspective on gender debates in the US.
Let athletes play sports!!!!!
The writing style was 🤌 mwah 🤌

Alan Hill

121 reviews7 followers

September 20, 2023

Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates by Katie Barnes is one of the best books I’ve read all year. Incredibly readable and accessible, enlightening accounts of the history of gender in sports, special attention to the people under the policies. Katie Barnes is a non-binary ESPN writer!?! So it also introduces a wonderful voice to look to in sports journalism! I could go on and on. Must read for everyone, but especially anyone who has any interest in this topic and is looking for a really well explained breakdown. I have often felt like the people most harmed by these policies are somehow always absent from these discussions. Barnes does a beautiful job of giving these people a voice in this book. I would even go as far to say this feels like essential reading for any discussion in the “gender question” when it pertains to sports. I can’t say enough how impressed I was with not just the quality of the work but the depth and accessibility that this book provides. This was incredibly easy to read, and I feel like it can only lead to more worthwhile discussions of the topic.

I feel like this is without a doubt in my top 5 non-fiction of the year. I’ll never run out of good things to say, but you should definitely find a way to read this book! Request it from your library as well, even if you buy it personally, that’s how important I think this is. Especially when our fight feels so dire right now. I honestly think anyone could read this and take anyway something worthwhile.

This book was provided to me free by netgally in exchange for a fair review.

Eva Surovell

196 reviews1 follower

June 19, 2024

so glad my loan on this came through before the olympics. organization felt a little muddled in the first half but i really enjoyed the policy discussion and thought this was well contextualized with all of the anti-trans legislation in recent years. bonus points for UVA swimmers being mentioned!

Gina

484 reviews10 followers

August 30, 2023

“Whether we realize it or not, our sports are coded, laden with allusions to gender and sexuality in ways that are fundamental to our collective understanding of both athletics and gender.”

Huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is incredibly relevant and important. Katie Barnes completely breaks down gender in sports, by chronicling sex separation in sports and how different the funding is, and how different guidelines irrevocably harm transgender people in the athletic space. Sports is tied to how the public views transgender people, and no matter what they do, transgender people are treated differently in sports.

The target keeps moving, especially for transgender women, including the length of time they need to be on hormone therapy and what testosterone levels are acceptable. And the only time it’s an issue is when they’re winning. In the case of Lia Thomas, everyone is upset that she won one of her events, but forget she placed fifth and eighth in her others. The idea that the outcome of an event against a transgender woman is predetermine in not correct, but has become the accepted (and in my opinion, incorrect) argument of disgruntled cisgender women.

I could say so much about this book; I truly couldn’t put it down. It should be required reading. The way Barnes presents information, and provides insight into their own journey with gender identity makes this a compelling, necessary read. The issues run so deep, but they manage to really break everything down in an easily understandable way.

Janalyn

3,797 reviews104 followers

September 13, 2023

Although this book is prefaced as a look at women sports that is only because it is really a book about transgendered people and their plight to play in or compete in the sport they love. As a mother of an LGBT person I read a lot about their struggles and although I look so forward to reading this book I have no tolerance for those who have no tolerance for others and that includes the author of this book who thinks gender identity is ridiculous and that is her words not mine. I really enjoyed the few chapters on the history of women sports. I I really wanted to know more about the controversy about those transitioning from male to female and then competing on women’s teams and how they can potentially and do in some cases get scholarships that others believe were meant for cis females. Because of that opinion I wanted to learn why it was OK for someone born male to compete with naturally born females if someone takes asterton does that change their DNA identifier and or does it medically make them more female and male but unfortunately none of these questions were answered this is another nonfiction book where the author had her opinion set in stone and wanted to convey that to the reader and nothing else. She says in the first chapter that males are physically different from females but then goes on chapter after chapter talking about how people are against transgender athletes playing on teams with naturally born females and I am not saying this is wrong or right I just wish The author would have given more evidence to explain why this shouldn’t be a discussion at all. Instead she just wrote to reinforce her own opinion unfortunately the only thing I learned from reading Fair Play by Katie Barnes it’s more sports history. I wish when people in the community write books like this they would give us more facts and less rehashing of the old controversies. For the most part I enjoyed the book I found some things the author said problematic because even though I am sure she is against generalizing she is not against doing it herself. I am really against people expecting a level of respect that they’re not willing to give but having said that we live and we learn and as far as sports history goes I would definitely recommend this book that talks about title IX the fight for women to be able to play sports at all and so there are many positives I just wanted to point out a few negatives. I want to thank Saint martins gross and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

net-gally

Kara Bell

108 reviews4 followers

August 14, 2023

If you care about sports, at all, you should read this book. Katie Barnes, an LGBTQ+ sports journalist, discusses the current and historical debate of gender identity and its place in sports. They discuss the history of women’s sports, queer and trans folks in sports, and the policies that have been built along the way. Most importantly, to me, they share interviews and real stories of queer and trans athletes who have competed on all levels. I felt that Barnes did a wonderful job providing all sides of this debate so that the reader can come to their own conclusions, or continue to ask more questions. What is most evident to me is how complicated these questions are, and how much we do not know.

As for my own feelings, after reading, I feel they can best be summed up by a quote from Brooke Forde (a competitor of Lia Thomas’):
“…I believe that treating people with respect and dignity is more important than any trophy or record will ever be…”.

Release Date: September 19, 2023

favorite-non-fiction

Anne

35 reviews

June 20, 2023

I do not know much about the world of competitive sports, but I do have an interest in equality for all people. The author did a great job of presenting many different pieces of information for a complex issue. They talked to people of many different sports and at a variety of levels to give a picture of how different individuals are being affected.

I appreciated that the author also admitted how tricky of a situation sports and gender is. At times, I would have liked a glossary to remind myself of what all the acronyms stood for, how different organizations had been mentioned before, and who individuals were.

Trine

57 reviews

January 20, 2024

Katie Barnes er en af mine favorit sportsjournalister, og de har skrevet en fantastisk bog. Den starter som en historisk gennemgang af forholdet mellem sport og køn, der så udvikler sig til kritisk undersøgelse af det loop trans personer i sport har været under de sidste par år. Den er godt researchet og fortalt, og læseren nyder virkelig godt af Barnes store kildenetværk og viden inden for kvindesport.

For mig var det til tider følelsesladet at læse om den systematiske tilbagerulning af trans personers rettigheder og adgang til sport. Bogen skyer ikke væk for noget og stiller nogle vigtige spørgsmål. Mange ville have godt af at læse den.

Beth M

242 reviews3 followers

June 13, 2023

Thanks to St Martin's Press a s NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!

Fair Play is very well researched and thorough. Katie Barnes does an excellent job examining the issues in this book in a way that felt balanced and unbiased. I especially appreciated their view point as they grew up in women's sports and have built a career around women's sports while being nonbinary. I was looking forward to reading what their proposed solutions were and was not disappointed. I very much appreciated their view point and found that I agreed with their potential solutions for moving forward.

Ali

33 reviews

November 4, 2023

"[S]ports, by design, are not fair... some athletes are taller in sports that preference height, and some are faster in sports that preference speed. Is that fair? The reality of sports is that we accept unfairness all the time" (pg 235).

I devoured this book. It does a phenomenal job of explaining the history of how we got to have sex-segregated sports in the first place, and presenting the sides of debate of where trans people should be included in sport (or under what restrictions, if any). Barnes wants you to make your own conclusions at the end, but does provide their own thoughts.

The book follows multiple transgender athletes' stories (mostly trans women, because trans men are often not perceived as "an athletic threat to men" [pg 69]). It quickly becomes evident people didn't care about trans women in sports until they started winning. It is emphasized throughout the book, however, that "a person's testosterone level does not determine athletic outcomes" (pg 88). Meaning one trans woman is not guaranteed to beat all the cisgender girls. And in fact, they mostly haven't been!

While Barnes doesn't have all the answers, because there needs to be more research done on how trans women's diminished but not negated physiological advantages from HRT translate to performance advantages (pg 94), they provide a number of insights from their job in this field as to how to proceed and an understanding of why people are so angry.

Essentially though, trans people should be able to choose which team they want to play on in low stakes (children's sports and recreational sports). For the Olympics it's more complicated (but a ban is not the answer), and most of us will never make it there, but these bills happening in the US affect thousands of trans lives now (pg 234).

I glossed over so many things, but if I keep going I'll just rewrite the book in my review... I hope this book explodes and encourages people to think critically about why they are gatekeeping trans people from sports, and hopefully we'll see more trans-sport inclusivity soon.

queer-non-fiction

Juliane Bell

42 reviews

January 24, 2024

This is an excellent read, a non-fiction book that informs, entertains, and enrages.

I think Katie Barnes does a great job of outlining the history of women’s sports, the current political climate, and key issues around transgender inclusion. They approach this in a nuanced, evidence based, and compassionate way.

To overgeneralize, one end of the political spectrum is blinded by hate and bigotry. But the other end of the spectrum is seemingly closed off to dialogue regarding valid concerns about transgender participation in certain elite level sports. Regardless, Katie highlights that the dignity of transgender athletes is often lost in these conversations.

Katie shares a balanced account throughout the book and hopes you will leave having formed your own opinions, and ends the book with some suggestions for policy.

I wish there was a book just like this on every social issue.

Nicole Lloyd

138 reviews3 followers

September 18, 2024

An interesting read on both sides of the coin.
Very based on the American system.
Key messages:
There is this idea that somehow transgender people have sports superpowers - not all transgender people go on to be champions, but this is definitely the perception.
This book also touched on the question of
“what will happen to women's sports?” The point raised is that women's sports will continue growing; more people are watching women's sports on television than ever before. The threat to that progress is not transgender girls; it's media who ignore women's sports, women receiving fewer opportunities to participate, and professional athletes still practicing in high school gyms or community centers. It's the stories of rampant abuse from coaches and doctors and administrators.

Casey

46 reviews

November 13, 2023

Saw this at the library and just knew I had to pick it up! Despite considering myself to be an ally to the LQBTQ+ community I felt like I still had a lot to learn about the influence of gender identity in the sports sphere and it’s wider implications. Barnes does an excellent job of articulating the convoluted intersection of gender and athletics while affirming transgender and non binary identities. I feel Barnes gave one of the most balanced representation of the history and current climate of gender in sports. Would highly recommend!

Kari Heggen (checkedoutbooks)

865 reviews7 followers

November 21, 2023

This is a very important book. It breaks down every aspect of gender in sports especially related to transgender athletes. It helps that I basically agreed with the author's viewpoint in how to shape policy at every variant level of competition. That being said this book dragged at times, I think some of it got repetitive and some went too far into detail that wasn't necessary. I liked the specific people examples best as well as the chapter where she shared her opinion. Would encourage anyone who currently has any opinion on transgender athletes' participation to read this

read-in-2023

Tasha

1,105 reviews37 followers

July 4, 2023

A timely book that seems well-researched and an important contribution to our current times. I really enjoyed learning about this issue and having more of an understanding about the many different angles concerning this topic.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced ebook in exchange for a fair and honest review.

netgalley non-fic

Monica Crawford

61 reviews5 followers

April 11, 2024

Been eyeing this one ever since I saw it announced on Twitter. A great introduction to debates around trans inclusion and pathways to participation. 10/10 recommend if you need help thinking through and understanding the disgusting number of policies and legislation aimed at pushing trans athletes out of sports.

While I’m not sure I learned tons of new material (science wise), I’m grateful to have read Barnes’ work and heard the stories of the athletes they spoke to. Gender policing is dangerous - as Dawn said earlier this week, let them play!!

Caitlin Gugliotta

90 reviews

May 1, 2024

One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. If you like sports/watch sports/care about LGBTQ+ rights/human rights, you should read this book.

So many of the policies ostracizing trans athletes are gut wrenching and downright cruel, oftentimes preventing CHILDREN from playing sports. As always, it’s about dehumanization and ensuring the continuation of power in the hands of rich white men.

David Streb

95 reviews3 followers

June 19, 2024

This book was a very timely, even-handed look at transgender sports participants. She made some excellent observations that gives people a lot to chew on. This is a very difficult issue - that of women born as males playing women’s sports. Discussion about his issue really needs the nuance that this book provides.

And you have to feel sorry for Mack Beggs- a trans wrestler forced by state law to wrestle as a woman because she was born a female.

Emily McClure

48 reviews

September 10, 2024

A fabulous book with which to hit the head of your local transphobe. Non athletic regular people such as myself may enjoy the philosophical questions of what is sports? Why separate by sex? What is a good way to separate? Why do we care about winning. But this is really thoroughly researched book that all will enjoy. I remember listening to an interview with Barnes that they did with ny favorite podcast Nancy in 2019 about teen trans athletes and I am so glad they are continuing to report and advocate for fairness in sports (though they report that only one woman has landed a quad in the olympics when it was in fact THREE at the 2022 olympics). I will be talking about this book for a long time

Kate

208 reviews8 followers

January 7, 2024

I wanted to educate myself on the debate about trans people in sports and heard about this book. It was excellent, thorough, and nuanced. I learned SO much. I highly recommend for anyone who also wants to understand this space better. Thank you so much Katie!

Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews

Ratings & Reviews for

Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates

Katie Barnes

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